A fairytale Christmas
Narration, English
A lonely ski track – Berthel Gripenberg
A lonely ski track searching away into the depths of the woods, a lonely ski track that curves make their way over ridges and precipices, over bogs where the dizzy snow flies and pine trees stand sparsely and short –it is my thought that creeps further and further away.
A frozen ski track that fades away in the solitude of the woods, a human life that passes on roads that no one knows –in the distance remained the answers on questions that the heart carried –a meandering track on the crowd my wanderings were.
A lonely ski track that ends on suddenly failing steep, where the wind-worn pine leans over the edge of the cliff –what the stars twinkle cold, how shadowy the forest stands, how easily the flakes fall on snowy tracks!
Salami & Zulamith – Topelius
And now the lamp is out and, now the night is quiet and clear and now all the memories arise from days long gone and gentle sayings fly about like streaks in the blue and wonderful and melancholy and warm is the heart then.
The clear stars look down in the winter night's glory what a blissful smile as if there was no death on earth. Do you understand their silent language? I know one more story I learned it from the stars; do you want to hear it?
Far on a star, he dwelt in the splendour of the evening sky;
she lived in another sun and another district. And Salami was her name, and Zulamit was he and both loved so much and cherished each other.
They lived on earth before and loved even then but were separated by night, death, sorrow and sin. Then white wings grew fast on them in the calm of death; they were condemned to live far from each other on separate stars.
But they thought of each other in the home of the blue heights. An immeasurable space of brilliance and suns lay between them, countless worlds wonders of the creator's wise hand spread between Salami and Zulamit on fire.
And then Zulamit has an evening consumed by the power of longing began to build a bridge of light from world to world and then has Salami as he from the edge of his sun she also began to build a bridge from pole to pole.
For a thousand years, they built with irresistible faith and so the Milky Way was created as a brilliant star bridge which embraces the highest vault of heaven and the orbit of the zodiac and binds shore to shore of the ocean of space.
Terror gripped the cherubim to God their flight stepped: »O Lord, look at what Salami and Zulamit have built!» But God Almighty smiled, and clearly, a light spread far and wide »What love in my world has built, I will not tear down.»
And Salami and Zulamit when the bridge was ready they ran into each other's arms — and immediately, a star was ready the clearest on the vault of heaven flowed up in their tracks that after a thousand years of sorrow in bloom, a heart beats.
And all that on the dark earth have loved tenderly and happily and was separated by sin and sorrow and anguish and death and night only has the power to build a bridge from world to world where it is inevitable that its love will reach its longing will find rest.
Rydberg – Santa Claus
Cold is the night, and still, and strange, Stars they glitter and shimmer. All are asleep in the lonely grange Under the midnight's glimmer. On glides the moon in gulfs profound; Snow on the firs and pines around,
Snow on the roofs is gleaming. All but the goblin are dreaming.
Gray he stands at the barnyard door, Gray by the drifts of white there, Looks, as oft he has looked before, Up at the moon so bright there; Looks at the woods, where the fir-trees tall Shut the grange in with their dusky wall; Ponders — some problem vexes, Some strange riddle perplexes —
Passes his hand o'er beard and hair, Shaking his head and cap then: " Nay, that riddle's too hard, I swear, I'll ne'er guess it mayhap then. " But, as his wont is, he soon drives out All such thoughts of disturbing doubt, Frees his old head of dizziness, And turns him at once to business.
First he tries if the locks are tight, Safe against every danger. Each cow dreams in the pale moonlight Summer dreams by her manger. Dobbin, forgetful of bits that gall, Dreams like the cows in his well-filled stall, Leaning his neck far over Armfuls of fragrant clover.
Then through the bars he sees the sheep, Watches how well they slumber, Eyes the cock on his perch asleep, Round him hens without number. Carlo wakes at the goblin's tread, Wags then his tail and lifts his head; Well acquainted the two are, Friends that both tried and true are.
Last the goblin slips in to see How all the folk are faring. Long have they known how faithfully He for their weal is caring. Treading lightly on stealthy toes, Into the children's room he goes, Looks at each tiny treasure: That is his greatest pleasure.
So has he seen them, sire and son, Year by year in that room there Sleep first as children every one. Ah, but whence did they come there? This generation to that was heir, Blossomed, grew old, and was gone — but where? That is the hopeless, burning Riddle ever returning.
Back to the barn he goes to rest, Where he has fixed his dwelling Up in the loft near the swallow's nest, Sweet there the hay is smelling. Empty the swallow's nest is now, Back though he 'll come when the grass and bough Bud in the warm spring weather, He and his mate together.
Always they twitter away about Places through which they 've travelled, Caring naught for the goblin's doubt, Though it were ne'er unravelled. Through a chink in one of the walls Moonlight on the old goblin falls, White o'er his beard it wanders; Still he puzzles and ponders.
Forest and field are silent all, Frost their whole life congealing, Save that the roar of the waterfall Faintly from far is stealing. Then the goblin, half in a dream, Thinks it is Time's unpausing stream, Wonders whither 't is going, And from what spring 't is flowing.
Cold is the night, and still, and strange, Stars they glitter and shimmer. All yet sleep in the lonely grange Soundly till morn shall glimmer. Now sinks the moon in night profound; Snow on the firs and pines around, Snow on the roofs is gleaming. All but the goblin are dreaming.
Translation from "The Anthology of Swedish Lyrics", 1917