The Journey Inwards
The longest journey
is the journey inwards.
Of him who has chosen his destiny,
who has started upon his quest
for the source of his being
(Is there a source?).
He is still with you,
but without relation,
isolated in your feeling
like one condemned to death
or one whom imminent farewell
prematurely dedicates
to the loneliness which is the final lot of all.
Between you and him is distance,
uncertainty—
care.
He will see you withdrawing,
further and further,
hear your voices fading,
fainter and fainter.
is the journey inwards.
Of him who has chosen his destiny,
who has started upon his quest
for the source of his being
(Is there a source?).
He is still with you,
but without relation,
isolated in your feeling
like one condemned to death
or one whom imminent farewell
prematurely dedicates
to the loneliness which is the final lot of all.
Between you and him is distance,
uncertainty—
care.
He will see you withdrawing,
further and further,
hear your voices fading,
fainter and fainter.
Dag Hammarskjöld, Vägmärken (Markings), translated by W.H. Auden (1964), p. 58.
Full poem: https://www.toursweden.com/single-post/2017/03/26/The-Journey-Inwards
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