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O, Little Root of a Dream

by Paul Celan

Translation by Michael R. Burch

O, little root of a dream
you enmire me here;
I’m undermined by blood —
no longer seen,
enslaved by death.

Touch the curve of my face,
that there may yet be an earthly language of ardor,
that someone’s eyes
may see yet see me,
though I’m blind,
here where you
deny me voice.


Translation copyright © 2019 by Michael R. Burch

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