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Issue 8, Summer/Autumn 2009

 

The Armoured Train by Edith Södergran, English translation by Christian Ward

Fifty wagons of hopes I loaded for your America.
They returned empty.
A freight of disappointment.
Now I will send my armoured train with rock-hard masks
on its threatening portholes:
Thousands of full wagons will be returning home.

Original Swedish:

Pansartåget

Femtio vagnar förhoppningar lät jag lasta till edert Amerika.
Hänsända vände de tomma...
Besvikelsefrakt...
Nu sänder jag pansartåg med stenhårda masker i hotande gluggar:
tusentals vagnar uppfyllelse vända de hem.