Veeride laavloen vaadtseme

Veeride laavloen vaadtseme,
bïne gåbloeh dielhtine dïeveme
jah jïenge tjelmide gaptjeme
jah juelkiej nuelesne
maadtoe sjuahkeme

luejesne vöölkimh,
tjaktjen sjuvveste
orre daelvieb reakadahtih
jah mov bangsemh gujht plaavedin
gosse nommh fïerhten naestide
mijjen bijjelisnie vedtimh

© Johan Sandberg McGuinne
Audio production: Haus für Poesie, 2019

I went to the hills to sing

I went to the hills to sing, but the snow filled my
lungs and the ice covered my eyes
and far below, the land sighed.

We set off in the gloaming, autumn drawing its final
breath,
but you gave birth to another winter that night, and my lips turned blue
as we named
each star above.

Translated into English by Johan Sandberg McGuinne