К. Б. Блумдаль (Blomdahl)
Текст песни Aniara. Akt 2. sc 3 (1)

Scene 3
Prelude

The Hall of the Light Year. Twenty-year anniversary. Rescue projectile fired off.

(All the passengers have been ordered to assemble in the Hall of the Light-Year to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Aniara's space flight. The Command group has also tired of Chefone I's severe rule; to mitigate the discontent and hopelessness the milder, more humane Chief Goldondier is appointed to the post of Chefone II. He and the Chief Technicians and other dignitaries take their places on the tribune of honour, where also the Mimarobe and Isagel, who have been released under a general amnesty, are seen in the background. The celebration is opened with the space cadets and the emigrants-all of them greying and haggard-singing "The Cast Iron Ballad", the same old fighting song that was sung on Aniara's departure from Earth. The crowd responds with well-trained assent until it is confused by an unexpected turn of humility from the leader.)

THE PASSENGERS AND SPACE CADETS:
Now they are here, our happy cast-iron days when we shall overcome the fire and cold consuming life round our tranquility.
Now they are here, our happy cast-iron days.

Chefone and Chief Technicians on tribune. Chefone in new mask.

CHEFONE:
The goldonda Aniara has been wending its way all of twenty years today.

THE PASSENGERS:
Twenty years today…

CHEFONE:
It is as if all human souls…

THE PASSENGERS:
Souls…

CHEFONE:
from Doris have come here and gathered together today to celebrate the significance of this most solemn day.

THE PASSENGERS:
This most solemn day…

CHEFONE:
Oh so vast are the cosmos, oh so mighty its mystery, oh so puny am I.

THE PASSENGERS:
So puny… puny… is… is… is he…