How many homelands play cards in the air as the refugee passes through the mystery”

“How many homelands

play cards in the air as the refugee passes through the mystery”

—Nelly Sachs, “Flight and Metamorphosis,” 1959

Nelly Sachs had no idea that when she reached out to one of her favorite novelists the correspondence would change the course of her life.

As a young Jewish girl in Berlin, Nelly developed a love of literature that inspired her to write her own poetry and prose. She was especially fond of fairy tales and legends and drew inspiration from the works of Swedish novelist and Nobel prize winner Selma Lagerlöf.

After Nelly wrote her first book in 1921, she sent a copy to Selma, who replied, "Many thanks for the lovely book! I couldn't have done it better myself.” Thus began a friendship that would span nearly 20 years.

In November 1938, the night of antisemitic violence known as Kristallnacht convinced Nelly that she could no longer safely remain in Germany. She reached out to Selma for assistance, writing, “I would be grateful with every fiber of my being for the smallest chance to live.”

Nelly fled to Sweden in 1940, in part due to Selma’s assistance. Sadly Selma, aged 81, died shortly before Nelly’s arrival, so the two writers never met in person.

In her adoptive country, Nelly established herself as a prolific poet. Through her vivid language, she memorialized the victims of the Holocaust and bore witness to the plight of refugees like herself.

Photo: Nobelprize.org

#Holocaust #History #WorldPoetryDay less

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