An Evening In Verona By Tarjei Vesaas, Translated Poem by Eyvind Riis

The hillsides and the fields at home are covered
with snow this christmas as they use to be.
My christmas, though, is rolling through the darkness
towards me and approaching steadily.

The crowd is bustling at the railway platform,
like lemons on their trees the street lamps soar.
The old town lies forgotten in the shadows,
now it's the train people are waiting for.

A train by night. I'm listening intently,
perceiving now a gentle, gentle stir.
A girl will come at midnight to Verona,
- and Christmas days in Rome for me and her.

The signallamps are splitting up the darkness
wherein two shining steel bands disappear.
Come, train. Bewitched, I'm gazing at the railway:
It's shivering because you'll soon be here.