Winter

The clock's gone back. The shop lights spill
over the wet street, these broken streaks
of traffic signals and white head-lights fill
the afternoon. My thoughts are bleak .

I drive imagining you still at my side,
wanting to share the film I saw last night,
----of wartime separations, and the end
when an old married couple re-unite ---

You never did learn to talk and find the way
at the same time, your voice teases me.
Well, you're right, I've missed my turning,
and smile a moment at the memory,

always knowing you lie peaceful and curled
like an embryo under the squelchy ground,
without a birth to wait for, whirled
into that darkness where nothing is found.

Iarna

Ceasornicul a luat-o inapoi. Luminile vitrinelor se revarsa
pe strada uda, aceste intermitente
ale semnalizatoarelor si ale farurilor albe imi umplu
dupa-amiaza. Gandurile-mi sunt negre.

Conduc inchipuindu-mi ca te am inca alaturi,
dorind sa-ti povestesc filmul de aseara
despre razboi si despartiri, si sfarsitul lui
in care doi tineri casatoriti, acum batrani, se regasesc-----

Tu chiar nu ai reusit niciodata sa vorbesti si sa fii atenta la drum
in acelasi timp, ma tachina vocea ta.
Asa e, ai dreptate, am ratat intersectia,
si zambesc fugar la gandul asta,

stiind prea bine cum zaci netulburat, rasucit
sub pamantul noroios, ca un embrion
ce nu se va naste niciodata, insurubat
in intunericul acela in care nimic nu poate fi gasit.

Daniela Bojica
 

Winter

The clock's gone back. The shop lights spill
over the wet street, these broken streaks
of traffic signals and white head-lights fill
the afternoon. My thoughts are bleak .

I drive imagining you still at my side,
wanting to share the film I saw last night,
----of wartime separations, and the end
when an old married couple re-unite ---

You never did learn to talk and find the way
at the same time, your voice teases me.
Well, you're right, I've missed my turning,
and smile a moment at the memory,

always knowing you lie peaceful and curled
like an embryo under the squelchy ground,
without a birth to wait for, whirled
into that darkness where nothing is found.

Iarna

S-a dat ceasul inapoi. Luminile magazinelor se revarsa
peste strada uda, semnalele semaforului
palpaind intrerupt si luminile farurilor umplu amiaza.
Gandurile imi sunt mohorate.

Sunt la volan si imi imaginez ca esti inca in dreapta mea,
si vreau sa vezi si tu filmul ce l-am vazut aseara,
---despre despartiri pe timp de razboi, si cum la final
cei doi soti demult casatoriti se reunesc---

Nu ai invatat niciodata sa vorbesti si sa gasesti
drumul in acelasi timp, vocea ta ma tachina.
Ei, bine, ai dreptate, am gresit drumul,
zambesc pentru o clipa acum cand imi aduc aminte,

mereu stiind ca zaci linistit si incovoiat
ca un embrion sub pamantul zdrobit,
fara sa iti mai astepti nasterea, rasucit
in intunericul unde nu se mai gaseste nimic.

Florentina Rahira Tinte
 

Winter

The clock's gone back. The shop lights spill
over the wet street, these broken streaks
of traffic signals and white head-lights fill
the afternoon. My thoughts are bleak .

I drive imagining you still at my side,
wanting to share the film I saw last night,
----of wartime separations, and the end
when an old married couple re-unite ---

You never did learn to talk and find the way
at the same time, your voice teases me.
Well, you're right, I've missed my turning,
and smile a moment at the memory,

always knowing you lie peaceful and curled
like an embryo under the squelchy ground,
without a birth to wait for, whirled
into that darkness where nothing is found.

Iarna

Ceasul s-a dat inapoi. Luminile din magazine se revarsa
peste strada uda, aceste fasii rupte
de semne de circulatie si faruri albe umplu
dupa-amiaza. Gandurile-mi sunt negre.

Conduc masina imaginandu-mi ca esti inca langa mine,
vrand sa-ti povestesc filmul pe care l-am vazut aseara,
-- despre despartiri in timp de razboi si despre final
cand doi sotsi batrani se regasesc –

N-ai reusit niciodata sa inveti sa vorbesti si sa te descurci in trafic
in acelasi timp, ma necajeste vocea ta.
Da, ai dreptate, am ratat breteaua de iesire
si zambesc o clipa la amintirea asta,

stiind mereu ca zaci impacat si ghemuit
ca un embrion sub pamantul faramitat,
fara sa ai o nastere de asteptat, rotit
in intunericul unde nu e nimic.

Gabriela Moldovan
 

Winter

The clock's gone back. The shop lights spill
over the wet street, these broken streaks
of traffic signals and white head-lights fill
the afternoon. My thoughts are bleak .

I drive imagining you still at my side,
wanting to share the film I saw last night,
----of wartime separations, and the end
when an old married couple re-unite ---

You never did learn to talk and find the way
at the same time, your voice teases me.
Well, you're right, I've missed my turning,
and smile a moment at the memory,

always knowing you lie peaceful and curled
like an embryo under the squelchy ground,
without a birth to wait for, whirled
into that darkness where nothing is found.

Iarna

Timpul s-a scurs. Luminile magazinului se revarsa
peste strada uda, dungile de lumina ale semafoarelor
si farurile albe umplu dupa-amiaza.
Gandurile imi sunt razlete.

Conduc masina inchipuindu-mi ca esti inca langa mine
si ca vrei sa privim impreuna filmul pe care eu l-am vazut noaptea trecuta
- despre despartirile provocate de razboi si
regasirea din final a doi soti batrani –

Niciodata n-ai stiut sa vorbesti si sa gasesti calea
in acelasi timp, vocea ta ma sacaie.
Ce sa zic, ai dreptate, am ratat momentul meu de cotitura,
si am zambit pentru o clipa in fata amintirii,

caci te stiu zacand linistit si incolacit
precum un embrion sub pamantul sfaramat,
fara sa mai astepti o nastere, invaluit
in acel intuneric gol.

George Cojocaru

 

Winter

The clock's gone back. The shop lights spill
over the wet street, these broken streaks
of traffic signals and white head-lights fill
the afternoon. My thoughts are bleak .

I drive imagining you still at my side,
wanting to share the film I saw last night,
----of wartime separations, and the end
when an old married couple re-unite ---

You never did learn to talk and find the way
at the same time, your voice teases me.
Well, you're right, I've missed my turning,
and smile a moment at the memory,

always knowing you lie peaceful and curled
like an embryo under the squelchy ground,
without a birth to wait for, whirled
into that darkness where nothing is found.

Iarna

Ceasul s-a dat inapoi. Luminile pravaliilor
se revarsa pe strada uda, aceste licariri intrerupte
ale semafoarelor si farurilor albe umplu
dupa-amiaza. Gandurile-mi sunt sumbre.

Conduc imaginandu-mi-te inca in dreapta mea,
Dorindu-mi sa-ti impartasesc filmul pe care l-am vazut aseara,
---despre despartiri din vreme de razboi, si sfarsitul,
Cand un cuplu de mult casatorit se regaseste---

N-ai invatat niciodata sa vorbesti si sa nimeresti drumul
In acelasi timp, ma necajeste glasul tau.
Ei bine, ai dreptate, am gresit drumul,
si zambesc o clipa aducandu-mi aminte,

stiind mereu ca te odihnesti in pace rasucit
ca un embrión sub pamantul strivit
fara sa mai astepti sa te nasti, ghemuit
in intunericul acela unde nu se mai afla nimic.

Ileana Botescu-Sireteanu
 

Winter

The clock's gone back. The shop lights spill
over the wet street, these broken streaks
of traffic signals and white head-lights fill
the afternoon. My thoughts are bleak .

I drive imagining you still at my side,
wanting to share the film I saw last night,
----of wartime separations, and the end
when an old married couple re-unite ---

You never did learn to talk and find the way
at the same time, your voice teases me.
Well, you're right, I've missed my turning,
and smile a moment at the memory,

always knowing you lie peaceful and curled
like an embryo under the squelchy ground,
without a birth to wait for, whirled
into that darkness where nothing is found.

Iarna

Am dat timpul inapoi. Luminile din vitrine
Se revarsa pe trotuarul umed, reflexia imperfecta
A semaforului si a lumina alba a felinarelor
Coloreaza dupa-amiaza; gandurile-mi sunt negre.

Imi vad de drum, si-mi pare ca esti langa mine
Dornic sa-ti povestesc filmul de aseara,
Evocand despartiri din vremuri de razboi
Si aducand laolalta in final sot si si sotie

Nu ai stiut sa-mpaci vorba cu fapta,
Vocea ta ma sacaie.
e-adevarat ca pentru-o clipa mi-a fost dor
sa ma intorc si zanbesc aducerii aminte,

fara a ma-ndoi ca tu te odihnesti in pace incovoiat
asemeni unui embrion sub pamantul jilav
ca nu vei mai renaste, pierdut pe veci
in intunericul etern.
 

Roxana Mindrican