Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Culture
  2. Poetry
1 May 2023

The NS Poem: on the sheep track

A new poem by Lutz Seiler, translated by Stefan Tobler.

By Lutz Seiler

April; I collected strides on steps
of stone, I touched & drank
the breath in the ditches the cold

echo sprung from my temples once
in a never, a weak return
is a squeak of a sigh: what

occurs is misted
by the spittle of birds the ear
asleep in oil the dead grow

& die in the garden, silence
is a vertical sleep

Lutz Seiler is a German poet and novelist. In September, And Other Stories will publish three books by Seiler: a novel, a collection of poetry and a volume of essays

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday - from the New Statesman. The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates.
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
Why collaboration is the key to growth
How AI can help unleash employee potential
How Registers of Scotland modernised the world’s oldest land register

Topics in this article : ,

This article appears in the 03 May 2023 issue of the New Statesman, Beneath the Crown