Paul Celan

23 November 1920 - 20 April 1970 / (Cernăuţi, Bukovin) Chernivtsi, Ukraine

Mandorla

In the Almond – what dwells in the Almond?
Nothing.
Nothing dwells in the Almond.
There it dwells and dwells.

In Nothing – what dwells there? The King.
There dwells the King, the King.
There he dwells and dwells.

Jews’-Hair, you’ll not grow grey.

And your Eye – where does your Eye dwell?
Your Eye dwells on the Almond.
Your Eye, on Nothing it dwells.
It dwells on the King.
So it dwells and dwells.

Human-Hair, you’ll not grow grey.
Empty Almond, regally-blue.
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