ULTIMA RATIO BY FGJ Like vapour, the titanic scheme is dissipated, everything grows rusty now that they created. They hoped to make their craze the lasting plan, now it falls apart everywhere, sheet steel and span. Raw chaos lies heaped up on wide display. Be patient. Even the fag ends will crumble away. Everything they made contained what brought their fall and the great burden they wear crushes them all. (Translated by Les Murray) Wie der Titanenwitz Hinweg nun siedet, Wie alles rostig wird, Was er geschmiedet. Sie hofften toericht toll, Dass es gelaenge. Nun brechen ueberall Blech und Gestaenge. Die Uniform liegt umher In rohen Haufen. Geduld! Auch dieser Rest Wird sich verlaufen. Sie schaffen stets ja mit, Was sie vernichtet, Und fallen mit der Last, Die sie errichtet. (Source: The Times Literary Supplement, 21 February 1992, p. 11. The poem was republished in _Siebzig Verweht V_, p. 64). Analysis welcome. Best greetings Bertil Haggman
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