A poem by Thomas Klingberg
Illustration: Petrus Akkordeon

What is the distance between us?
When my roses reach you
And my words
And your words
And your kisses visit me
I will write a tree to you
Two lovers carved a heart into it
Long before we loved each other
Because love was already there
And roses
And words
And there were also kisses

So how much is it
the distance between us?
When trees grow
And words
And roses
And also kisses become more
And love
Do you feel the winds
Who carry the pollen
From distant fields
Quiet
By a eloquent silence

The winds are hands
The gentle and tender
Coating
Stop
Feed us

And so trees grow
From words
Heart-carved letter-tree forests
On my paper

[1997]
Wie groß ist die Distanz zwischen uns
Wenn meine Rosen dich erreichen
Und meine Worte
Und deine Worte
Und deine Küsse mich besuchen

Einen Baum will ich dir schreiben
Zwei Liebende schnitzten ein Herz hinein
Lange bevor wir einander liebten
Denn die Liebe gab es schon
Und Rosen
Und Worte
Und Küsse gab es auch

Wie groß also
Ist die Distanz zwischen uns
Wenn Bäume wachsen
Und Worte
Und Rosen
Und auch Küsse mehr werden
Und die Liebe
Spürst du die Winde
Die Blütenstaub tragen
Über ferne Felder
Leise
Durch diese wortgewaltige Stille

Die Winde sind Hände
Die sanft und zärtlich
Streicheln
Halten
Uns nähren

Und so wachsen Bäume
Aus Worten
Herzbeschnitzte Briefbaumwälder
Auf meinem Papier

[1997]
A poem by Thomas Klingberg
Illustration: Petrus Akkordeon

What is the distance between us?
When my roses reach you
And my words
And your words
And your kisses visit me
I will write a tree to you
Two lovers carved a heart into it
Long before we loved each other
Because love was already there
And roses
And words
And there were also kisses

So how much is it
the distance between us?
When trees grow
And words
And roses
And also kisses become more
And love
Do you feel the winds
Who carry the pollen
From distant fields
Quiet
By a eloquent silence

The winds are hands
The gentle and tender
Coating
Stop
Feed us

And so trees grow
From words
Heart-carved letter-tree forests
On my paper

[1997]