Poem of the Week: "Kyrie" by Tomas Tranströmer

The poem "Kyrie" by Tomas Tranströmer entered my life when I read it in college. But, it became a transformative influence on my poetry after my middle son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2001. Since then I have written two poems based on this poem--one using the title and one using the first line from Robin Fulton's translation. While I prefer Fulton's translation, it is important to consider Robert Bly's translation since the two poets were friends. I wonder when I read each one whether Tranströmer preferred one over the other. Perhaps it is best to see this poem in various lights because it is about seeing life from a perspective of light and dark. This theme is prevalent in Tranströmer's poetry. To read more of his work I highly recommend finding a copies of his works.