Vägen hem / The way home / Le Chemin Du Retour

Karin Boye


Jag vet en väg som leder hem.
Den vägen är tung att gå.
Var vandrare där blir en fattig man
och liten och ful och grå.

Jag vet en väg som leder hem.
Den vägen är kal och ren.
Den är som att luta sin varma kind
mot obarmhärtig sten.

Men den som känt den stenen
mot kindens isade blod,
skall märka, hur mild dess hårdhet är,
hur trogen och fast och god.

Och han skall tacka stenen
och hålla det hårda kärt
och prisa det enda kämpaspel
som var sin seger värt.


THE WAY HOME
Translation from Swedish into English: David McDuff
___________________________________________________________________________________

I know a way that leads home.
It is hard to go that way.
Every traveller there grows poor
and small and ugly and grey.

I know a way that leads home.
That way is bare, pure-blown.
It is like leaning one's warm cheek
against unmerciful stone.

But he who has felt that stone
on his cheek's frozen blood,
will perceive how gentle its hardness is,
how faithful and firm and good.

And he will thank the stone
and the hardness love will he,
and praise the only battle
that was worth his victory.


LE CHEMIN DU RETOUR
Traduit en français par Caroline Chevallier
___________________________________________________________________________________

Je connais un chemin qui conduit chez moi.
Ce chemin est pénible à suivre.
Le voyageur s'y appauvrit
s’y rabougrit, blême et laid.

Je connais un chemin qui conduit chez moi.
Ce chemin est aride et vierge.
Il est comme la pierre inhumaine
contre laquelle s’incline une joue chaude.

Mais qui a senti la pierre
glacer le sang de sa joue
verra comme est clémente sa rudesse
comme elle est loyale, et ferme, et bonne.

Et il remerciera la pierre
et chérira ce qui est rude
et louera le seul défi
qui fût digne de sa victoire.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Swedish. English. French. Om dikteren. About the poet. Illustration by Tandi Venter

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