Night Train
The train runs rhythmically through the night
The wheels sound like the hooves of horses
Night spreads out thickly around the train
a breathing animal
Parallel rails
Pull me through the night
I want to know:
How many miles through the night? How long is the night?
I will not sleep
And will measure the length of the night . . .
Eyelids slowly meet
Closed eyes
Night
Morning comes
Overflowing with sunlight
The rails stretch endlessly away in both directions
The train has traveled through the night
I look behind where night fades.
I don’t know
How many markers I have fallen away behind
Or the length of the night.
(Translated by Joseph Duemer)