Text & Translation
Pioner, 'Peonies'
Swedish source:
Anders Österling
och parkens blomster
blunda i salighet
då regnets droppar flöda.
Men liksom trötta synder,
tunga, dystra,
osläckligt flammande pioner glöda.
Och medan än som brustna
purpurtoner i svarta mullen
lösa blomblad dala,
ensamt och gällt
som eviga passioner
pionerna i aftondimma tala.
Peonies
English translation ©
Annika Lindskog
And all the flowers in the park
Shut their eyes in bliss
When raindrops flooded fall.
But like tired sins,
Heavy, laden,
Unquenchably brightly blazing peonies flame.
And while yet like broken
Purple notes in black soil
Single petals tumble,
Lonely and loudly
Like eternal passions
The peonies in the evening fog declaim.
Pioner, 'Peonies'
Swedish source:
Anders Österling
Peonies
English source:
Annika Lindskog
Det doftar mull,
A scent of earth,
och parkens blomster
And all the flowers in the park
blunda i salighet
Shut their eyes in bliss
då regnets droppar flöda.
When raindrops flooded fall.
Men liksom trötta synder,
But like tired sins,
tunga, dystra,
Heavy, laden,
osläckligt flammande pioner glöda.
Unquenchably brightly blazing peonies flame.
Och medan än som brustna
And while yet like broken
purpurtoner i svarta mullen
Purple notes in black soil
lösa blomblad dala,
Single petals tumble,
ensamt och gällt
Lonely and loudly
som eviga passioner
Like eternal passions
pionerna i aftondimma tala.
The peonies in the evening fog declaim.
Composer
Hugo Alfvén
Hugo Emil Alfvén was a Swedish composer, conductor, violinist, and painter. Among his works are a large number of pieces for male voice choir, five symphonies and three orchestral "Swedish Rhapsodies." The first of these rhapsodies, Midsommarvaka is…
