Nelly Sachs - Body Quotes

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O the chimneys
On the ingeniously devised habitations of death When Israel's body drifted as smoke Through the air—
Was welcomed by a star, a chimney sweep,
A star that turned black Or was it a ray of sun?

Nelly Sachs

Dancer
woman in childbirth
you alone
carry on the hidden navel-string
of your body
the identical god-given jewels
of death and birth.

Nelly Sachs

When sleep leaves the body like smoke and man, sated with secrets, drives the overworked nag of quarrel out of its stall, then the fire-breathing union begins anew.

Nelly Sachs

When sleep enters the body like smoke
and man journeys into the abyss
like an extinguished star that is lighted elsewhere,
then all quarrel ceases,
overworked nag that has tossed the nightmare grip
of its rider.

Nelly Sachs