Swedish Poetry 1
Gray Hare Through Rock Go hare-parallell in flinc
hes untouched step go imperceptibly as if cast by the still In granite gains fat in slow veins’ years of patience in a way of being another time than human Go granite untouched go slow souls’ strides waiting like a heavier time, a different longing Loosen the granitefat’s lock read eleven vacuum time with hare-hearing antenna will be scraped coaxed loose and alone A being which alone can ache itself to stone can accumulate materials around its wait Aase Berg, from Forsla fett (Transfer Fat), 2002 Translated by Johannes Göransson AASE BERG Forsla fett (Transfer Fat, 2003) In a series of poetry collections Aase Berg has explored the effects of technology on the human being, the patriarchy and the way nature maintains its independence from human activities. Forsla fett is the first part of a trilogy about pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood (the other parts are Uppland and Loss). This is a thin volume of short texts that are animated by anaphora and alliteration. The limited format is no barrier to ingenious puns and inventive variations on similar themes. References to contemporary history heighten the sense of desolation and vulnerability. The poems resemble nursery rhymes performed in a horror film, with the terror of what is about to happen echoing between the rarefied pages of the book. Selected Collections of Poetry: Hos rådjur (1997) Forsla fett (2002) Uppland (2005) Loss (2007) Liknöjd fauna (2011) 45 SWEDISH POETRY