as a new year begins...

"i listen to the wind that obliterates my traces.
the wind that resembles nothing,
understands nothing nor cares what it does,
but is so lovely to listen to.
the soft wind,
soft like oblivion.

when the new morning breaks
i shall wander further,
in the windless dawn begin my wandering afresh
with my very first step
in the wonderfully untouched sand."

par lagerkvist, from aftonland, translated by w.h. auden (rppc of an unknown horn player from west virginia circa 1910)