Niels Hav [Denmark]

 

The Dead Have No Telephones
 
Letters
no one has written                             
never arrive.                                      
 
Snow covers the churchyard.                        
A taxi waits outside         
for ten years.                                                       
The dead have no telephones.
 
 (Translated by Heather Spears)

 
The Princess of Light Comes Ashore
 
Let's go to Wenling to see the ocean
at the edge of Peoples Republic of China
where the princess of light comes ashore
as we stand facing the China Sea

I want to write a poem about the mystery
of all existence. I know it requires humility
but also action, protest, joy, anger and delight.
In addition: a stroll and language skills

All day I am trying to catch up with Du Fu (杜甫)
who traveled in Zhejiang a thousand years ago
But finally, at sunset, I must be honest and give up
the old master hits reality with greater precision:

“Behind the gates of the wealthy
food lies rotting from waste
Outside it is the poor
who lie frozen to death”

The wind blows where it wishes, nothing happens
for a thousand years. Let's go to Wenling, face reality
and the China Sea, when the princess of light comes
ashore. She opens when you knock the door 

Visa
 
I hope for an explanation
from God and his lawyers:
What is going on?
Is there a plan?
 
When the rich steal from the poor,
it's called politics and commerce.
When the poor resist,
it's called terror and violence.
 
People from Europe and the USA,
fly to Africa with drinks in hand.
Africans cross the Mediterranean
at the risk of losing their lives.
 
People who assist us at the airport
are called personnel and security.
People who help the poor into the party
are called human traffickers.
 
The basic strategy is a riddle,
I hope for an explanation
the day we stand in line for visa
in front of God and his lawyers.

 
Author's Bionote:

*Niels Hav (1949) : He was awarded the “Danish Literature Prize 2024” from Ragna Sidéns and Vagn Clausens Foundation. He is the author of eleven volumes of prose and poetry. His books are widely translated into languages including e.g. Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, Turkish, English, Serbian, Kurdish, Albanian and Farsi. Frequently interviewed by the media, as he has travelled widely in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America and participated in numerous literary events. Niels Hav was raised on a farm in western Denmark. Today he resides in the most colourful and multi-ethnic part of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. His recent book “Moments of Happiness” (2022) is published by Anvil Press in Vancouver, Canada. He is  “...one of Denmark’s most talented living poets...” ( Frank Hugus, “The Literary Review”).