JOHN MOLE

When

When, around 5 a.m., she turns
And sighs with what is never now
Sweet shifting between dreams, a murmurous
Adjustment of her pillow, but
Familiar despair, his cue
To ask Are you still awake? and hers
To utter from a depth
He cannot enter Yes, I haven’t slept,
Have you?, each thinks it is like

When the dead awake
To find it true this time
Despite their lying accidentally
Beside each other and by habit almost
In each other’s arms, as warm
As the residual ash
Of love or anger, wondering
If anything at all then why they are
Here unpuzzled by the dawn’s
Irresolution, not ashamed
As once they might have been
By what is brought to light.
 

Cand

Cand, pe la 5 dimineata, ea se intoarce
Pe o parte si ofteaza cu ce nu-i nicicand acum
O trecere dulce intre vise, o aranjare
Cu murmure a pernei, ci
O deznadejde familiara, e randul lui
Sa intrebe Esti inca treaza? si al ei
Sa rosteasca dintr-un adanc
Pe care el nu-l poate patrunde Da, nu am dormit,
Tu?, fiecare crede ca-i ca atunci

Cand mortii se trezesc
Si-si dau seama ca-i adevarat de data asta
Desi stau din intamplare
Unul langa celalalt si din obisnuinta aproape
Ca se imbratiseaza, calzi
Precum cenusa ramasa
Din dragoste sau manie, intrebandu-se
Daca exista ceva, atunci de ce sunt
Aici fara sa-i nedumereasca sovaiala
Zorilor, nerusinandu-se
Cum poate o faceau odata
De ce-i adus la lumina.


Din volumul Depending on the Light, Peterloo Poets,1993

Translated by Octavia Marinescu