SAMSON SINGS AS HE GRASPS THE PILLARS OF THE TEMPLE:

Ordained a nazir to the Lord
you scarcely possess a name,
chosen, lifted
from the earth's mild embrace you came.
Ordained a nazir to the Lord
you are called the Lord's hand
and brandish the Lord's lightning
in terror-stricken lands.

Ordained a nazir to the Lord
the Lord's spirit you bear
and have not your own spirit
to love a mortal dear.
Woe to that hour
when man and god I failed,
when I became the man Samson,
and the order's strength quailed.

In remorse grew my power
near the millstones' din.
Of victories easily won
they spoke to Judah's son.
Now I pull down Dagon's temple,
for Samson is devoured,
and I am again a nameless one,
whose name is the Lord's sword!

Translated into English by David McDuff in "Karin Boye: Complete poems".

Swedish original

For more information, please visit the website of David McDuff and his own pages with the translations.