#inger hagerup

[majestativa]

... for death must master us anyhow.

INGER HAGERUP — Twenty Contemporary Norwegian Poets: A Bilingual Anthology [Ed. Terje Johanssen], transl. by Martin Allwood, (1984)

[majestativa]

An ice-cold surgeon, auscultating her own naked agony. While the pillow killed the screaming, she did her heart’s autopsy.

INGER HAGERUP — Twenty Contemporary Norwegian Poets: A Bilingual Anthology [Ed. Terje Johanssen], on Emily Dickinson, transl. by David McDuff, (1984)

[majestativa]

I am the […] lip’s orison.

— INGER HAGERUP ⚜️ 20 Contemporary Norwegian Poets: A Bilingual Anthology, transl. by David McDuff, (1984)

[majestativa]

Auscultating her own naked agony […] she did her heart’s autopsy.

— INGER HAGERUP ⚜️ 20 Contemporary Norwegian Poets: A Bilingual Anthology, transl. by David McDuff, (1984)

[trollkatt]

Cover of Inger Hagerup's book of nonsense poetry Så rart, 1950, illustrated by Paul René Gauguin

[revenseventyr]

November / November

by Inger Hagerup translated by revenseventyr —

November is an old woman who no longer hopes. When the sun, that great lover, left her, she pulled a grey dress over her lean shoulders, and her face grew harsh with loneliness. November is an old woman who regrets. Howling she tore the last flowers of autumn from her hair, then she bent her wizened knees for the psalm of the storm. November is an old woman no one wants to make room for. Autumn locked its door to her with an icy key, and now she knocks in vain with trembling fingers on the closed gate of winter.

— Original Norwegian text can be read here.

[revenseventyr]

Happiness / Lykke

by Inger Hagerup translated by revenseventyr — What is happiness? - Walk on a grassy mountain path in thin, thin summer clothes, scratch your fresh mosquito bites with lazy thoughtfulness and be young and very rich in unlived love. Feel the brush of a veil-light spiderweb like a caress over mouth and cheek and consider the weather and wind. Ask the ox-eye daisies for advice and maybe yes - and maybe no - he loves - he loves me not. But he does not yet know you. — Original Norwegian text can be read here.

[revenseventyr]

Two tongues / To tunger

by Inger Hagerup translated by revenseventyr — My heart has two tongues My mind has two wills. I'll always love you; it won't be fulfilled. Deep in the red dark my life took two shapes. I am a cooing dove. I am a hissing snake. My heart has two tongues but you must listen well. Stay with me and leave me and save me from myself. — Original Norwegian text can be read here.