Don’t count me with the almonds

DON’T COUNT ME AMONG THE ALMONDS

Make me bitter,
count me with the almonds
—Paul Celan

Don’t count me among them,
don’t count me
with what was bitter
or too dark.

Don’t count me among the bitter almonds.

Give me,

when the night is too dark,
the light of the stars
and the hope of dawn,
the poppy of dreams.

GERMAIN DROOGENBROODT
Lake Como, Italy, 15.6.2016

Translation Germain Droogenbroodt – Stanley Barkan