Journey into night - Degutyte Janina

My sister told me, "You are not my brother."

My brother told me, "You are not my brother."

Where can I find a sister - where, a brother.

Who am, to sister and to brother, alien?

High up the Alps, deep-chasmed in the snows,

St.Bernard's chapel hunches, hoar with years.

A cold and lonely toller nods beside the bell

And, sleeping, dreams and angel, lowering, awoke him.

He walks now, searching for me - downhill: through night

And day, through wind and snowdrift, thaws and freezing.

He seems to brush my brow - his good soft hand upon me;

He seems to touch my face - my heart he quickens.

Here below, my heart will sleep. Above, awaken. Its sun obscured.

Its beating stilled, this heart had verged on death.

Through fog - a tale: all, all is a trek through fog. And life itself

Ascends through fog - a journey into night.

---

Degutyte Janina (1928 - 1990) Lithuania

Translated by Demie Jonaitis

Source: A European Collection of Social Poetry and Art (1800-1950), Elba Partnership, 2008