lønningspils

Idiolectical translations by Jordan Barger

From The Munch Museum Archives

Vår

Cigarettes!

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These translations are made from hand-written manuscripts of Sigbjørn Obstfelder’s poetry, which were in Edvard Munch’s possession and are now at the Munch Museum. I spent a summer there, so that I could be close to these pieces of paper. I chose to translate, for you, from the spots in the manuscript that gave me goosebumps.

I love these poems in particular because they are so vital. These are not the delicate refined feelings of a poet, they are a man wanting a cigarette and a drink. Being close to these manuscripts was a strong feeling, so it made this immediacy even more heightened.

My translation here is done in such a way as to show my process and the nature of the hand-written manuscripts. My own idiolect comes out here in an attempt to match Obstfelder’s excitement with mine. I hope you enjoy these in all their imperfections and immediacies.

Alternative text can be found here.