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.

Iulia Anchidin

Stella Davis

Dupa ingroparea monstrului

Dupa ingroparea monstrului
nu ne putem intoarce acasa.
Urmarim gastele indreptandu-se spre sud
catre linistitele docuri, unde stau gramada
vasele noastre odata functionale.

Ele dau frau liber unei licariri de speranta.
Cine spune ca nu putem ridica velele iar, ca
nu vom face fata cand roata se invarteste? Sunt
tarmuri pe care nu am debarcat niciodata: acele
tarmuri ascunse.

Dupa mult timp, ne-am intors impotriva vecinilor nostri,
privandu-i de confort prin sacrificiu. "Dati
tot ce se poate" a fost regula.
Am ascultat-o, nu-i asa?
Toti acei oameni tineri.

Acum cand un stol de ciovlici distrug
porumbul verde, nu pare sa conteze prea mult.
Surprinzator cat de mult timp ne putem
castiga painea; cati ani sunt
de cand nu am mancat carne de vita?

Am mers atat de departe pe urmele monstrului.
Dar zimtii se erodeaza, drumul se arata,
si steagul de care ne tinem e sfasiat,
si descoperim ca nu suportam
sa ne intoarcem acasa.