s h a d o w & r e a l m
i
here even now i see a place,
a free place,
here in the shadow.
ii
this shadow
is not for sale.
iii
the sea too
casts a shadow perhaps,
and so does time.
iv
the wars of shadows
are games:
no shadow
stands in another's light.
v
those who live in the shadow
are difficult to kill.
vi
for s while
i step out of my shadow,
for a while.
vii
those who want to see light
as it is
must retire
into the shadow.
viii
shadow
brighter than the sun:
cool shadow of freedom.
ix
completely in the shadow
my shadow disappears.
x
in the shadow
even now there is room.
____________________________________
HANS MAGNUS ENZENSBERGER
translated by Michael Hamburger
poems for people who don't read poems
Atheneum 1968
