Butterfly

“Butterfly”

What lovely aftermath
is painted in your dust.
You were led through the flaming
core of the earth,
through its stony shell,
webs of farewell in the transient measure.

Butterfly
blessed night of all beings!
The weights of life and death
sink down with your wings
on the rose
which wanders with the light ripening homewards.

What lovely aftermath
is painted in your dust.
What royal sign
in the secret of the air.


Nelly Sachs
trans. Ruth and Matthew Mead