Home

When was it you took up that second stick,
and began to walk like a cross country skier ?
Your glide developed its own politics.
Last July, you were able to stretch over
like an acrobat, to oil the garden table.
The patio faced South. It was high Summer.

Coffee and grapefruit was the breakfast ritual,
or boiled eggs eaten from blue terracotta.
Our paradise you called it , like a gite
we might have chosen somewhere in Provence.
Neither of us understood you were in danger.
Not even when we called the ambulance:

you'd been inside so many hospitals,
ticking your menus, shrugging off jabs and scans
talking unstoppably to visitors----
your long crippling made you bitterly clever.
Humped on your atoll, and awash with papers
you often argued like an angry man.

This time , however, you were strangely gentle.
Your face lit up as soon as I arrived;
smiling, you shooed the nurses out, and said
Now go away, I'm talking to my wife.
You liked it, when I brought myself to say
seeing you was the high point of my day.

The nurses, pushed for time, hauled you about
and fixed the bed without much ceremony.
You spoke of home, as if you were ET,
and wanted me to fetch you in the car---as
I would have, if the staff nurse had concurred.
Darling, they brought you in like a broken bird.

Your shoulder blades were sharp beneath your skin,
a high cheek bone poignant against the pillow.
Yet neither of us spoke a word of death.
My love, you whispered, I feel so safe with you.
That Monday, while I phoned, you waited loyally
for my return, before your last breath.

Acasa

Candai luat al doilea bat
si-ai inceput sa mergi ca la schi fond?
Alunecarea ta avea propria-i politica.
In iulie anul trecut puteai sa te intinzi
ca un acrobat, sa lustruiesti masutsa din gradina.
Curtea dadea spre sud. Era in plina vara.

Cafeaua si grapefruit-ul – ritual de dimineata,
sau oua fierte servite-n teracota albastra.
Paradisul nostru, cum ii spuneai tu, ca sejur
am fi putut s-alegem un loc de prin Provence.
Niciunul din noi doi n-a inteles ca erai in pericol.
Nici macar cand am chemat salvarea:

fusesei prin atatea spitale,bifand meniuri, uitand
de-impunsaturi si raze,
vorbind la nesfarsit cu vizitatorii –
infirmitatea lunga te facea amarnic de destept.
Adus de spate pe atolul tau si inundat de hartii
adesea te certai ca un tafnos.

Totusi, de data asta erai straniu de bland.
Fatsa ti s-a aprins cand am ajuns acolo;
zambind, ai expediat asistentele si-ai spus
Acum plecati, vorbesc cu sotia.
Ti-a placut cand m-am adunat si ti-am spus
ca sa te vad era partea cea mai buna a zilei mele.

Asistentele, indepartate-o vreme, te-au tot mutat
si ti-au facut patul fara prea mare ceremonie.
Vorbeai despre acasa ca si cand erai E.T.
si voiai sa te iau in masina – asa
cum as fi facut-o daca sora-sefa m-ar fi lasat.
Iubitule, te-au adus ca pe o pasare lovita.

Omoplatii ti se vedeau ascutiti sub piele
si maxilarul iesit in relief sprijinit de perna.
Dar niciunul din noi doi n-a scos un cuvant despre moarte.
Iubirea mea,sopteai, imi dai atata siguranta.
In lunea aceea, cat am dat telefoane, m-ai asteptat loial
sa ma intorc,si-apoi ti-ai dat ultima suflare.
 

Gabriela Moldovan

Home

When was it you took up that second stick,
and began to walk like a cross country skier ?
Your glide developed its own politics.
Last July, you were able to stretch over
like an acrobat, to oil the garden table.
The patio faced South. It was high Summer.

Coffee and grapefruit was the breakfast ritual,
or boiled eggs eaten from blue terracotta.
Our paradise you called it , like a gite
we might have chosen somewhere in Provence.
Neither of us understood you were in danger.
Not even when we called the ambulance:

you'd been inside so many hospitals,
ticking your menus, shrugging off jabs and scans
talking unstoppably to visitors----
your long crippling made you bitterly clever.
Humped on your atoll, and awash with papers
you often argued like an angry man.

This time , however, you were strangely gentle.
Your face lit up as soon as I arrived;
smiling, you shooed the nurses out, and said
Now go away, I'm talking to my wife.
You liked it, when I brought myself to say
seeing you was the high point of my day.

The nurses, pushed for time, hauled you about
and fixed the bed without much ceremony.
You spoke of home, as if you were ET,
and wanted me to fetch you in the car---as
I would have, if the staff nurse had concurred.
Darling, they brought you in like a broken bird.

Your shoulder blades were sharp beneath your skin,
a high cheek bone poignant against the pillow.
Yet neither of us spoke a word of death.
My love, you whispered, I feel so safe with you.
That Monday, while I phoned, you waited loyally
for my return, before your last breath.

Acasa

Cand ai luat si cel de-al doilea baston,
Si ai inceput sa mergi ca un schior de fond?
Alunecarea ta si-a dezvoltat propria metoda.
Acum un an in Iulie, puteai sa te arcuiesti
ca un acrobat, ca sa vopsesti masa din gradina.
Curtea era spre sud. Era in mijlocul verii.

La micul dejun, un ritual: cafea si grepfrut,
Sau oua fierte servite in vase albastre de lut.
Paradisul nostru, cum il numeai tu, ca o cabana de vacanta
pe care ne-am fi putut-o alege undeva in Provence.
Niciunul din noi nu a inteles ca tu esti in pericol.
Nici macar atunci cand am chemat ambulanta:

ai fost internat in asa de multe spitale,
insemnandu-ti fisele, nu-ti mai pasa de intepaturi si teste
stateai la taclale cu vizitatorii ---
handicapul prelungit te-a facut amarnic de inteligent.
Incovoiat peste atolul tau si acoperit de hartii
te certeai adesea ca un om manios.

De data asta, totusi, erai ciudat de bland.
Fata ta s-a luminat in clipa in care eu am sosit;
Zambind, le-ai izgonit pe asistente afara, si ai spus
Plecati acum, vreau sa vorbesc cu sotia mea.
Ti-a placut, cand am ajuns sa zic ca
Vederea ta mi-a implinit ziua.

Asistentele, in criza de timp, te-au mutat
Si ti-au aranjat patul fara mare formalitate.
Vorbeai de acasa de parca erai ET,
Si vroiai sa te iau cu mine in masina ---ceea ce
as fi facut, daca asistentele ar fi fost de acord.
Dragule, erai ca o pasare franta cand te-au adus aici.

De sub piele iti ieseau ascutiti omoplatii,
Cu un pomete proeminent impungeai perna.
Cu toate astea niciunul dintre noi nu vorbea de moarte.
Dragostea mea, mi-ai soptit, ma simt in siguranta cu tine.
In acea zi de luni, cand tocmai telefonam, tu asteptai loial
intoarcerea mea, inainte sa iti dai ultima suflare.

Florentina Rahira Tinte
 

Home

When was it you took up that second stick,
and began to walk like a cross country skier ?
Your glide developed its own politics.
Last July, you were able to stretch over
like an acrobat, to oil the garden table.
The patio faced South. It was high Summer.

Coffee and grapefruit was the breakfast ritual,
or boiled eggs eaten from blue terracotta.
Our paradise you called it , like a gite
we might have chosen somewhere in Provence.
Neither of us understood you were in danger.
Not even when we called the ambulance:

you'd been inside so many hospitals,
ticking your menus, shrugging off jabs and scans
talking unstoppably to visitors----
your long crippling made you bitterly clever.
Humped on your atoll, and awash with papers
you often argued like an angry man.

This time , however, you were strangely gentle.
Your face lit up as soon as I arrived;
smiling, you shooed the nurses out, and said
Now go away, I'm talking to my wife.
You liked it, when I brought myself to say
seeing you was the high point of my day.

The nurses, pushed for time, hauled you about
and fixed the bed without much ceremony.
You spoke of home, as if you were ET,
and wanted me to fetch you in the car---as
I would have, if the staff nurse had concurred.
Darling, they brought you in like a broken bird.

Your shoulder blades were sharp beneath your skin,
a high cheek bone poignant against the pillow.
Yet neither of us spoke a word of death.
My love, you whispered, I feel so safe with you.
That Monday, while I phoned, you waited loyally
for my return, before your last breath.

Acasa

Oare cand ai luat cel de-al doilea baston
Si ai inceput sa pasesti precum un schior de fond?
Alunecarea ta isi avea propriul sens
In iulie trecut puteai sa te intinzi
ca un acrobat sa cureti masa din gradina.
Curtea interioara dadea inspre Sud. Era miez de vara.

Cafeaua, grapefruitul sau ouale servite din albastre vase de teracota
Erau incluse in ritualul de la micul dejun.
Ii spuneai Raiul nostru,
Ca si cum ar fi fost o pensiune din Provence.
Niciunul dintre noi nu intelegea ca esti in pericol.
Nici macar cand am chemat ambulanta:

doar mai fusesei de-atatea ori in spitale
verificand meniurile, ignorand injectiile si testele
vorbind la nesfarsit cu vizitatorii -
lunga-ti suferinta te-a facut spiritual intr-un mod trist.
Chircit pe atolul tau si invadat de hartii
Te certai adesea cu o mina de om furios.

De data asta, insa, in mod ciudat, te comportai cu blandete.
Chipul ti s-a luminat cand am sosit;
zambind, ai izgonit asistentele si ai zis:
Plecati, vorbesc cu sotia mea.
Ti-a placut cand ti-am spus ca, vazandu-te,
zilele mele capatau un sens.

Asistentele, grabite, te-au dat la o parte
Si au facut patul fara prea mult fast.
Vorbeai despre casa de parca erai ET,
Voiai sa te duc in masina - ceea ce
as fi si facut daca nu s-ar fi opus asistentele.
Dragul meu, te-au adus precum o pasara franta,

Omoplatii aproape ca-ti ieseau prin piele,
Oasele pometilor strapungeau perna
Totusi, niciunul din noi nu aducea vorba de moarte.
Iubirea mea, ai suspinat, ma simt atat de linistit langa tine
In acea zi de luni, cand am sunat, ai asteptat credincios
intoarcerea mea, inainte sa-ti dai ultima suflare.

George Cojocaru

Home

When was it you took up that second stick,
and began to walk like a cross country skier ?
Your glide developed its own politics.
Last July, you were able to stretch over
like an acrobat, to oil the garden table.
The patio faced South. It was high Summer.

Coffee and grapefruit was the breakfast ritual,
or boiled eggs eaten from blue terracotta.
Our paradise you called it , like a gite
we might have chosen somewhere in Provence.
Neither of us understood you were in danger.
Not even when we called the ambulance:

you'd been inside so many hospitals,
ticking your menus, shrugging off jabs and scans
talking unstoppably to visitors----
your long crippling made you bitterly clever.
Humped on your atoll, and awash with papers
you often argued like an angry man.

This time , however, you were strangely gentle.
Your face lit up as soon as I arrived;
smiling, you shooed the nurses out, and said
Now go away, I'm talking to my wife.
You liked it, when I brought myself to say
seeing you was the high point of my day.

The nurses, pushed for time, hauled you about
and fixed the bed without much ceremony.
You spoke of home, as if you were ET,
and wanted me to fetch you in the car---as
I would have, if the staff nurse had concurred.
Darling, they brought you in like a broken bird.

Your shoulder blades were sharp beneath your skin,
a high cheek bone poignant against the pillow.
Yet neither of us spoke a word of death.
My love, you whispered, I feel so safe with you.
That Monday, while I phoned, you waited loyally
for my return, before your last breath.

Acasa

Cand oare ai inceput sa folosesti si-al doilea baston,
Si-ai inceput sa umbli ca un schior de fond?
Alunecarea ta si-a faurit propria logica.
In iulie trecut, puteai sa te intinzi
Ca un acrobat, sa ungi masa din gradina.
Foisorul dadea-nspre sud. Era toiul verii.

Cafeaua si grepfruitul erau ritualul de la micul dejun,
Ori oua fierte mancate din vase albastruie de lut.
Il numeai paradisul nostru, ca o casuta de vacanta
Pe care-am fi putut-o alege undeva in Provence.
Nici unul din noi n-a inteles ca erai in pericol.
Nici macar atunci cand am chemat salvarea:

Fusesesi prin atatea spitale,
Bifandu-ti meniurile, ridicand din umeri la-ntepaturi si teste
Palavragind neincetat cu vizitatorii---
Indelungata-ti neputinta te-a facut amarnic de istet.
Ghemuit pe-atolul tau si-ngropat in hartii
Te ciondaneai deseori ca un barbat furios.

De-asta data totusi, ai fost ciudat de bland.
Chipul ti s-a luminar de-ndata ce-am sosit;
Zambind, ai gonit infirmierele si-ai spus
Pleacati acum, vorbesc cu sotia mea.
Ti-a placut cand mi-am facut curaj sa-ti spun
Ca sa te vad era momentul principal al zilei pentru mine.

Infirmierele, zorite de timp, au tras de tine-n sus si-n jos
Si ti-au aranjat patul fara prea mari formalitati.
Ai vorbit de casa de parca erai ET
Si-ai vrut sa te iau cu masina---ceea ce
As fi facut daca asistenta sefa ar fi fost complice.
Dragul meu, te-au adus aici ca pe-o pasare zdrobita.

Omoplatii iti strapungeau pielea
Un pomete proeminent impungand perna.
Si totusi nici unul din noi n-a pomenit de moarte.
Iubirea mea, mi-ai soptit, ma simt asa de-nsiguranta cu tine.
In acea zi de luni, in timp ce telefonam, ai asteptat credincios
Sa ma intorc, inainte sa-ti dai si ultima suflare.

Ileana Botescu-Sireteanu

Home

When was it you took up that second stick,
and began to walk like a cross country skier ?
Your glide developed its own politics.
Last July, you were able to stretch over
like an acrobat, to oil the garden table.
The patio faced South. It was high Summer.

Coffee and grapefruit was the breakfast ritual,
or boiled eggs eaten from blue terracotta.
Our paradise you called it , like a gite
we might have chosen somewhere in Provence.
Neither of us understood you were in danger.
Not even when we called the ambulance:

you'd been inside so many hospitals,
ticking your menus, shrugging off jabs and scans
talking unstoppably to visitors----
your long crippling made you bitterly clever.
Humped on your atoll, and awash with papers
you often argued like an angry man.

This time , however, you were strangely gentle.
Your face lit up as soon as I arrived;
smiling, you shooed the nurses out, and said
Now go away, I'm talking to my wife.
You liked it, when I brought myself to say
seeing you was the high point of my day.

The nurses, pushed for time, hauled you about
and fixed the bed without much ceremony.
You spoke of home, as if you were ET,
and wanted me to fetch you in the car---as
I would have, if the staff nurse had concurred.
Darling, they brought you in like a broken bird.

Your shoulder blades were sharp beneath your skin,
a high cheek bone poignant against the pillow.
Yet neither of us spoke a word of death.
My love, you whispered, I feel so safe with you.
That Monday, while I phoned, you waited loyally
for my return, before your last breath.

Acasa

Cand oare ai capatat si a doua carja
Si ai inceput sa cutreieri tara ca un schior?
Ti-ai urmat propriul drum in lunecarea ta.
In Iulie, puteai sa faci tumbe
De acrobat, sa lacuiesti masa din gradina.
Curtea interioara dadea spre sud. Era miezul verii

La micul dejun serveam cafea si grapfruturi
Sau oua fierte in vase de teracota albastra
Spuneai ca-i Paradisul nostru,
Ne-am fi putut stabili undeva in Provence
Niciunul dintre noi nu a realizat ca esti in pericol.
Nici cand am chemat ambulanta:

Ai fost internat in atatea spitale,
Iti marcai meniurile, erai nepasator la injectii si ecografii
Vorbeai in continuu vizitatorilor- - - -
Infirmitatea iti conferea o inteligenta sarcastica.
Ghemuit pe atolul tau, si acoperit de hartii
Adesea protestai ca un om furios.

Dar de data asta erai totusi neobisnuit de calm.
Fata ti s-a luminat de cum am sosit;
Ai poftit-o afar ape sora, zambind, si ai spus
Du-te acum, sunt cu sotia.
Ai fost incantat cand ti-am marturisit ca
intalnirea noastra era cel mai bun lucru din ziua aia.

Asistentele, presate de timp, te-au ridicat
Si ti-au aranjat patul fara prea multa ceremonie.
Vorbeai de casa in stilul lui ET,
Si mi-ai cerut sa te asez eu in masina- -
In caz ca s-ar fi oferit si asistentele.
Dragul meu, te-au adus ca pe o pasare cu aripile frante.

Oasele umerilor se iveau ascutite pe sub piele,
un obraz osos impungand perna.
Si totusi nu a pomenit nimic de moarte.
Iubito, mi-ai soptit, ma simt inn siguranta cu tine.
In lunea aia, eu te sunam, iar tu asteptai loial
Sa ma intorc, inainte de a-ti da ultima suflare.

Roxana Mindrican