Haiku
in Danish by
Duncan
MacLaurin, Fanø, Denmark
Translation: author
|
down
by the jetty –
the water so low
we walk underneath |
ved
bådebroen –
vandet så lavt
vi går under |
| * * * |
sea of silver
clouds of silk –
full moon |
sølv på havet
himlen silkehvid –
fuldmåne |
| * * * |
night-time on the shore –
the surf so soft
the curlew whisper |
nat langs strandbredden –
brændingen så tyst
rylerne hvisker |
| * * * |
soon after sunrise
a squall of balmy drizzle –
a double rainbow |
kort efter daggry
en skylle af støvregn –
regnbuetvilling |
| * * * |
the last piece of wood
stacked neatly with the others –
a frog sits naked |
det sidste brænde
smidt op på vognen –
den nøgne frø |
| Note: The two versions
are slightly different. A direct translation of the Danish might
read:
the last of the wood
thrown onto the wagon –
the naked frog
|
In September 2005, the Danish versions of these haiku will be
published in an anthology entitled 'Små
silhouetter'.
Duncan MacLaurin is a teacher, poet and translator. Born in Glasgow
in 1962, he emigrated to Denmark in 1986 after meeting Danish journalist
and writer, Ann Bilde, in Assisi. Since 1991 the couple have lived
on Fanø, off the west coast of Jutland, Denmark. |
