HILARY ELFICK

The lost river of Relleu

 

Slower than a glacier
the river crawls under the cracking cliffs
quivers, carrying debris between old reed beds.
Stranded once on winter’s tide,
fish nets still enclose straggles of white,
clucking, resting,
a turn of crimson comb to snap a fly.

Roxana-Monica Mîndrican

Hilary Elfick
 

Raul disparut din Relleu*

Mai lent decat un ghetar
raul se furiseaza pe sub stancile crapate
susura, ducand cu sine grohotis in vechile stufarisuri.
Abandonate candva intr-o iarna pe timp de flux
plase de pescuit ce inca mai ascund fasii albe,
cloncanind, odihnindu-se,
o creasta stacojie, se intoarce sa prinda o musculita.

*The province of Relleu covers an expanse of over 75 sq miles. The village itself it set within a large mountain valley like a hidden gem. It is a typical Spanish village yet only 25 minutes from the coast where you will find all the shops and businesses you could ever need. It currently has around 950 inhabitants, and is increasing all the time. Relleu is the perfect example of rural tourism, it has mountain climbing, cycling, walking and horse riding, all this with an average of over 300 days of sun per year. The mountain of Sierra de Aitana standing at 1558m and Puig Campana standing at 1442m overlooks the whole area and can be seen from nearly every point.