Near are we, Lord,
near and graspable
Grasped already, lord,
clawed into each other, as if
each of our bodies were
your body, Lord.
Pray, Lord,
pray to us,
we are near.
Wind-skewed we went there,
went there to bend
over pit and crater.
Went to the water-trough, Lord.
It was blood, it was
what you shed, Lord.
It shined.
It cast your image into your eyes, Lord.
Eyes and mouth stand so open and void, Lord.
We have drunk, Lord.
The blood and the image that was in the blood, Lord.
Pray, Lord.
We are near.
Paul Celan
(trans. John Felstiner)
arspythia 