Stella Davis

After burying the monster

After burying the monster
we cannot return home.
We follow the geese skeining south
to the quiet docks, where lie in hulk
our ships once seaworthy.

They let loose a flickering hope.
Who is to say we shan't set sail again, rise
to the occasion as the tide turns? There
are coasts where we never landed: those
secretive shores.

A long time since, we turned on our neighbours,
rending their comfort by way of a sacrifice. "Give
of your best" was the rule.
We obeyed it, didn't we?
All those young men.

Now when a deceit of lapwings ravages the
green corn, it scarcely seems to matter.
Surprising, how long we are able
to eke a living; how many years
since we ate red meat?

We went so far, in the steps of the monster.
But the dint wears away, the road unravels,
the flag we clung to lies shredded,
and we find we cannot bear
to return home.

Ana-Maria Purec

Stella Davis

Dupa ce ingropam monstrul

Dupa ce ingropam monstrul
nu ne mai putem intoarce acasa.
O luam pe urma gastelor in stol spre tarile calde
pana la docurile linistite, unde zac gramada
corabiile noastre, candva demne sa infrunte marea.

Ele dau un licar de speranta.
Cine zice ca n-o sa mai ridicam ancora,
sa facem fata ocaziei, precum mareea cum se schimba?
Mai sunt coaste unde n-am ajuns niciodata:
tarmurile acelea secrete.

E mult de cand ne-am suparat vecinii,
spulberandu-le confortul cu un sacrificiu.
Regula era "dati ce aveti mai bun."
Noi am urmat-o, nu-i asa?
Toti acei barbati tineri.

Acum nu prea mai conteaza cand
nagatii amagitori dau iama-n papusoi.
E surprinzator cat putem
trai pe sponci; cati ani au trecut
de cand am mancat ultima oara carne?

Am mers atat de departe pe urmele monstrului.
Dar ne slabesc puterile, drumul ni se dezvaluie,
stindardul de care ne-am agatat e bucati
si noi descoperim ca nu
ne mai putem intoarce acasa.