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.

Gabriela Moldovan

Michael Swan

Marco Polo
 

Am discutat cu Marco Polo.

Mi-a zis
Da, e-adevarat,
a exagerat un pic
in carte
sa creasca vanzarile.

Dar in mare parte era adevarata.

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

Boala,
si anul sa-si revina
in Badakhshan.

Banditi,
furtuni de nisip si voci de spirite
in desertul Gobi.

In Pamir a fost cel mai rau
mi-a zis,
le mureau caii
prin trecatorile inalte
unde-ti ingheata oasele.

Stii,
i-am spus,
am fost in China ieri.
(Chiar am fost.
Am venit pe Terminalul 3
la 7.20 azi-dimineata.)

Ma asteptam sa nu ma creada,
dar a-nteles destul de bine
ce putem face.

Nu m-asteptam la mila.