Sign 12

by Nichita Stanescu

Little by little she became a word,
bundles of soul on the wind,
a dolphin in the clutches of my eyebrows,
a stone provoking rings in water,
a star inside my knee,
a sky inside my shoulder,
and I inside I.

Time flows by...

Time flows by, and has passed like rivers
Since that hallowed moment we first saw each other,
Yet I'll never forget the love we had together,
You miracle, with large eyes and cold fingers.

Oh, come back! To bring words only you can inspire,
Watch over me so your gaze gently lingers,
Let me marvel at this moment that hungers
For those new words you wring from my lyre.

You're not even aware that when you're near
A great peace descends to quell my agony,
Just like the silence at the rising of a star;

If I could only see you like a child, smiling up at me,
All the suffering of my life would disappear,
My eyes rekindle, my soul grow within me.

(Mihai Eminescu)

Over the tree tops

Over the tree tops glides the moon,
Woods are dancing in the breeze,
Through the boughs of alders trees
Plays the horn a woeful tune.

Ever farther, far away,
Ever fainter is its breath,
But it salves with thirst for death
My sad soul, forlorn for aye.

Why should you keep silent when
My witched heart for you is bound?
Gentle horn, are you to sound
For my solace once again?

(Mihai Eminescu)

To the star

Up to the star that's just appeared
The journey's long, and so
For thousand years its light careered
To reach us here, below.

It may have faded on its way
Of old, in blue spheres bright
Though only now its shining ray
Unfolds to this our sight.

The image of the star that died
Comes slowly to the fore:
It used to be when it would hide -
We see what is no more.

And likewise, while our yearning dove
Died in the deepest night,
The light of the extinguished love
Still follows us in flight.

(Mihai Eminescu)
traducere: Andrei Bantas