The Words Begin as Butterflies: Birgitta Trotzig
1. In Sweden
In the glistening snow under the white multi-storeyed
buildings there walked a young blonde woman with all
exterior signs of good order – fur coat, boots,
handbag, grocery bag – and led a child by its hand.
She spoke. Her gaze didn´t see the child, nor anyone
else. She didn´t speak to the child, not to anyone.
She talked and talked to herself straight out in the
light clear frosty day, this uninterrupted passionate
speech straight out didn´t bring about the minutest
whirl, didn´t leave the tiniest trace in the crystal
clear sunny air of March