Swans Commentary » swans.com June 1, 2009  

 

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by Alison Phipps

 

Multilingual Poetry

 

 

 

 

Glockenblume: Ring © 2009 Alison Phipps

 

 

(Swans - June 1, 2009)  

I know I am in hell
when they come
for the young girl
given in to my
care

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.

I know I am
in hell
when they
lie.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Mensonge
Mensonge

I know I am
in hell
when they take her
in the night
by force.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

I know that this
is hell
the longing
to hold her
sobbing body
in my arms

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

I do not
need to think to
know I am in hell
There is no need for
therefore

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

Noi siam venuti al loco ov' io t'ho detto
che tu vedrai le genti dolorose
c'hanno perduto il ben dell' intelletto.

...the woeful people
who have lost
the good of
the intellect.

This is true
and
this is hell.

 

 

Martin Niemöller (1892- 1984) was a German Protestant pastor and social activist.

Dante's verses from Inferno, III.

Picture: Glockenblume: Ring, by Alison Phipps (2009).

 

 

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Poetry

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About the Author

Alison Phipps is Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies at the University of Glasgow.

 

Legalese

Please, feel free to insert a link to this work on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, please DO NOT steal, scavenge, or repost this work on the Web or any electronic media. Inlining, mirroring, and framing are expressly prohibited. Pulp re-publishing is welcome -- please contact the publisher. This material is copyrighted, © Alison Phipps 2009. All rights reserved.

 

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