YOU CALL FOR PEOPLE

You call for people of great stature. What gives great stature
                                    to a person? 
To become nothing and forget oneself for that which is 
                                    greater than she.

The unrepentant call out. They themselves would grow 
                                    into giants 
the moment they bowed their knees in the shadow of 
                                    the immense things.

But raise your voices until the gods awake, until new gods
                                    rise up and answer! 
When no one asks for people any more, then your 
                                    people will be here.

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.