|
|
Home Poets Novelists Critics Lidia Vianu Desperado Links Contact
LIDIA VIANU
from the volume of poems 1,2,3, Integral, Bucharest, 1997
The Danger Isn’t Within
I haven’t gone to the sea since Chernobyl I’d forgotten bare feet in the sand
our inner radioactivity can’t be read on our faces the beach glistens like clay
we leave long frozen trails of footprints behind us the waves break short of us not touching
autumn is on the way it’s nightfall come to the seawall I shake you I speak out loud
it’s like a film of judgment day will you ever forgive the way I left
you never left you’ve always been ahead of me and I followed dutifully
I didn’t catch up it’s my fault the sea’s so black no don’t look
don’t display your indifference sunset today same old sunrise tomorrow
we put on our shoes the seawall is deserted the wind howls over the water the waves mount
our fingers tangle together you’re bored your eyes clutch crab claws
your water bearer hands toss away the daylight
we shiver as we enter the hotel we scoured the beach you thought of the Villa Nobel
I make us hot tea chilled to the bone we talk about parents
our mothers have so much in common you tell me so do we I tell myself
it’s cold in the unheated room night falls slowly how nice to be under the covers
you lie down beside me a pair of predatory felines with ravenous eyes
who bites first what prey would we favor this autumn feels heavy the horizon sinks
under the blanket hot tea in my hands I study you arranging your thoughts
you yawn stretch hold me unexpectedly where now is your urge to leave
each new day you stay here is the wrenching halt of another night
I encircle your ribs with my arms let hidden Eves wait their turn
no more than you and me thoughts sunder us your unknowable cheeks wet with tears
what have I not seen where have I failed I kiss your eyes throbbing like two hearts
our nights taste so sharply of nevermore let’s shed our lives until dawn
moods departures decisions silences non-returns the dividing wall grows between
you grasp me in your soul you stop me then you whisper The danger isn’t within
translated by
Adam J. Sorkin