Michael Swan

Marco Polo

I was talking to Marco Polo.

He said
Yes, OK,
he went over the top a bit
in the book
to push up the sales.

But it was mostly true.

The years on the road.
Turkey, Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan, …

Disease,
and a year to recuperate
in Badakhshan.

Bandits,
sandstorms and spirit voices
in the Gobi.

The Pamirs were the worst
he said,
with the bloody horses dying
below the high passes
where your bones froze.

You know
I said
I was in China yesterday.
(True enough.
We hit Terminal 3
at 7.20 this morning.)

I had expected disbelief,
but he understood pretty well
what we can do.

I had not expected pity.

George Cojocaru

Michael Swan

Marco Polo
 

Discutam cu Marco Polo

A zis
Da, OK,
a exagerat putin
in carte
ca sa creasca vanzarile.

Dar era aproape adevarat.

Anii petrecuti pe drum.
Turcia, Armenia, Persia, Afganistan...

Boala,
si un an de refacere
in Badakhshan.

Talhari,
furtuni de nisip si voci inchipuite
in desertul Gobi.

In Muntii Pamir a fost cel mai greu,
a zis,
caii insangerati agonizau
sub trecatorile inalte,
acolo unde iti inghetau oasele.

Stii,
am spus,
am fost in China ieri.
(Cam asta e adevarul
Am ajuns la Terminalul 3
la 7.20, azi-dimineata.)

Ma asteptasem sa nu dea crezare,
dar a inteles destul de bine
ce putem face.

Nu asteptasem indurare.