Poem: "Suddenly, in Sweden"

Suddenly, in Sweden 


O the chimneys

     Nelly Sachs



The very tall chimney on the very tall building
has been glumly silent all winter.
This morning, finally, it has something to say for itself.

Whatever it says
shoots up so quickly that it is lost in the space
behind the sky.

The black smoke flies after it, haltingly,
then spreads out like a net
that catches nothing but its own unknotting.

I say smoke, but it could have been hair.
I say sky, but it was a handcart of discarded clothes.
I say silent, but the chimney has been speaking in German.

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