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.

Simona Elisabeta Catana

Stella Davis

Dupa ce ingropam monstrul

Dupa ce ingropam monstrul
nu ne putem intoarce acasa.
Urmam stolul de gaste ce se indreapta spre sud
catre docurile linistite unde se afla epavele
vapoarelor noastre candva in stare sa infrunte marea, sa navigheze.

Ei dau frau liber unei licariri de speranta.
Cine va spune ca nu vom parasi iar portul, prinzand
prilejul la revenirea fluxului?
Sunt tarmuri unde nu am ancorat niciodata: acele
tarmuri tainice.

A trecut mult de cand i-am atacat pe vecinii nostri,
distrugandu-le linistea si facand un sacrificiu."Dati
ce-aveti mai bun" spunea regula.
Ne-am supus regulii, nu?
Toti acei tineri.

Acum, cand un stol de ciovici distrug
culturile verzi, nu pare sa conteze.
Surprinzator, cat timp vom mai fi in stare
sa o ducem de azi pe maine; cati ani
din clipa cand am consumat carne rumenita de vita?

Am mers atat de departe pe urmele monstrului.
Dar forta dispare, drumul se limpezeste,
steagul caruia i-am fost credinciosi zace in farame,
si descoperim ca nu putem suporta
sa ne intoarcem acasa.