Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Edited by
Lidia Vianu
Press Release Monday 1 December 2014
Lidia Vianu
ISBN 978-606-8592-57-2
Contemporary Literature Press wishes to thank poet Ioana Ieronim
The University of Bucharest
for the selection of the texts.
Lidia Vianu
Anne Stewart
Cristina Ioana Young for the photographs
Edited by
Lidia Vianu
1
Contents
Angela Marinescu p. 9
(1941)
Vagrant Poem Poezie maidanez p. 9
Hopeless Speech Discurs dezndjduit p. 10
Medical Memory Amintire de medicinist p. 11
Ioana Ieronim p. 12
(1947)
To Friends Prietenilor p. 12
Ion Mircea p. 15
(1947)
Barcelona Lovers ndrgostiii din Barcelona p. 15
Fingerprint Amprenta p. 16
Adrian Popescu p. 17
(1947)
The Burn Arsura p. 17
Grapes Struguri p. 18
Lidia Vianu p. 19
(1947)
hug. soul. never told you. bench. wait. never. p. 19
open. fist. edge. my cup of light p. 20
2
Ion Zubacu p. 21
(1948)
The Secret Secretul p. 21
The Living Book Cartea de trit p. 23
Ioana Crciunescu p. 25
(1950)
Delirium Delirul p. 25
God Rolls Over onto His Other Side Dumnezeu se ntoarce pe partea cealalt p. 26
Liviu Ioan Stoiciu p. 27
(1950)
why de ce p. 27
Church on Wheels O biseric mergtoare p. 28
Nichita Danilov p. 30
(1952)
Season Anotimp p. 30
Time Timp p. 32
Mircea Petean p. 34
(1952)
From the cycle Textures (Taoist poems). xxx Din ciclul Urzeli (poeme taoiste). xxx p. 34
From the cycle All Those Years Din ciclul Toi anii aceia p. 35
Eugen Suciu p. 36
(1952)
Temperament Spelling Hazard Rugby- Temperament ortografie hazard rugby la p. 36
tackle the Princess prines
The Art and Precision Co-operative or Cooperativa art i precizie sau despre p. 38
3
about Being Too Tired to Go on with One oboseala de a continua o anume fericire
Particular Happiness
Andrei Zanca p. 40
(1952)
So Astfel p. 40
Today Azi p. 42
Marian Drghici p. 43
(1953)
Paul Vinicius p. 46
(1953)
she who had turned me into some kind of ea care fcuse din mine un fel de japonie p. 46
japan ruffled by an atomic bomb ciufulit de o bomb atomic
she in crow silk glancing at me ea care m-a privit din mtasea-broatei p. 47
child with yellow moths and milk tooth copilul cu fluturi galbeni i dinte de lapte p. 48
an incident with hands and feet called man ntmplarea cu mini i picioare numit om p. 49
fiftytwo cincizeciidoi p. 50
Gabriel Chifu p. 51
(1954)
In My Sleep (a vision) n somn (o viziune) p. 51
My City Oraul meu p. 53
Denisa Comnescu p. 54
(1954)
Between the Comb and the Mirror ntre pieptene i oglind p. 54
Gazing at the Oak-trees in front of the Girls Privind stejarii din faa cminului de fete p. 56
Dorm
4
Traian T. Coovei p. 57
(1954-2014)
Life Enough ndeajunsul de via p. 57
The Feast Ospul p. 59
Magda Crneci p. 60
(1955)
If Only De-ar veni p. 60
Postmodernist Manifesto Manifest postmodern p. 62
Ion Murean p. 64
(1955)
A Sense of Sea in a Small Pub Sentimentul mrii ntr-o crcium mic p. 64
On Gods Despre zei p. 66
Marta Petreu p. 68
(1955)
Theses on the Brain Teze despre creier p. 68
No Longer Loving Heart Nemaiiubitoare inima p. 70
Matei Viniec p. 71
(1956)
The Ship Corabia p. 71
We Expected a Resurrection of Flowers Ateptam nvierea florilor p. 73
Carmen Firan p. 74
(1952)
On the Horizon La orizont p. 74
Last Celebration Srbtoarea din urm p. 75
5
Liviu Georgescu p. 76
(1958)
Annals Will No Longer Protect Us Cronicile nu mai vor s ne apere p. 76
Half Pe jumtate p. 78
Adrian Alui p. 79
Gheorghe
(1958)
Tea Ceremony Ceremonia ceaiului p. 79
Sentence Sentina p. 81
Bogdan Ghiu p. 83
(1958)
ioan es pop p. 85
(1958)
beyond dincolo p. 85
Lucian Vasilescu p. 88
(1958)
Daniel Bnulescu p. 92
(1960)
Cubby 4, Attic, 19 The Fall of the Bastille Strada Cderea Bastiliei 19. Mansard. p. 92
Street Cmrua numrul 4
Princess I said Prines am spus p. 94
Peter Sragher p. 95
(1960)
tombstone piatra funerar p. 95
bullet in love glonul ndrgostit p. 97
6
Horia Grbea p. 100
(1962)
field cinema cinematograf de campanie p. 100
pretext pretext p. 102
Mihail Glanu p. 103
(1963)
Every Line Is Given to Us in order to Fiecare vers ne este dat ca o amnare a morii p. 103
Postpone Death
My Life Is Treating Me More and More Viaa mea se poart tot mai fr mnui cu p. 104
Brutally mine
Robert erban p. 105
(1970)
Shirt Buttons Nasturii de la cma p. 105
God Talks to No One Dumnezeu nu vorbete cu nimeni p. 106
Dan Mircea Cipariu p. 107
(1972)
the matrix poem. closer and closer to my life poemul matri. din ce n ce mai mult n p. 107
propria mea via
Alexandru Muina p. 110
(1973-2013)
Philosophies Filosofii p. 110
Dudu Dudu p. 111
Pigeons Porumbeii p. 112
Dan Sociu p. 113
(1978)
7
Domnica Drumea p. 116
(1979)
with or without cu sau fr p. 116
Linda Maria Baros p. 118
(1981)
Q.H.S. (Maximum-security district) Q.H.S. (Cartier de maxim siguran) p. 118
SDF SDF p. 119
Elena Vldreanu p. 120
(1981)
I am not a plastic bag I am not a plastic bag p. 120
fat fat p. 122
Claudiu Komartin p. 124
(1983)
i love that city iubesc acel ora p. 124
On the Wharf La debarcader p. 125
Angela Marinescu
(b. 1941)
m recunoatei, am un singur vers stng you recognise me, I have only one left line
i un singur vers drept and one right
din care ies viermii care se urc out of which worms climb,
ondulai i irevocabili pe treangul winding and irrevocable, a noose
ce se balanseaz ca o moned that hangs like a coin,
cognitivist i psihanalizabil a banilor cognitivist, psychoanalysable, from the wealth
din reeaua strlucitoare a stngii in the bright network on my left
i a unei singurti out of a solitude
cu gura nchis ermetic whose mouth is hermetically sealed
10
Ioana Ieronim
(b. 1947)
Prietenilor To Friends
Mi-e ruine c sunt spaniol pentru c Franco I am ashamed that I am Spanish because of Franco
Mi-e ruine c sunt francez pentru c Algeria, I am ashamed that I am French because of Algeria
mi-e ruine c sunt algerian pentru c Frana, I am ashamed that I am Algerian because of France
mi-e ruine c sunt american pentru c Bush Iraq I am ashamed that I am American because of Bush, Iraq
i sngele vrsat cndva ntre frai, and the bloodshed once among brothers
mi-e ruine c sunt rus pentru c Stalin Gulag I am ashamed that I am Russian because of Stalin, Gulag
i mai nou una-alta, and recently of this and that
Mi-e ruine c sunt german pentru c Hitler, sta e clar, I am ashamed that I am German because of Hitler, clearly
[Pol Pot se vede mai rar n topuri, dar te ngrozeti, i este (Pol Pot appears more and more seldom in the lists, but one
o cumplit ruine omeneasc numai cnd i aduci aminte] is horrified, humanly ashamed, remembering)
mi-e ruine c sunt englez pentru c fotbalul .a.m.d. I am ashamed that I am English because of football etc
mi-e ruine c sunt polonez asta cnd nu sunt mndru, I am ashamed that I am Polish only when I am not proud
mi-e ruine c sunt turc, totui curzii, I am ashamed that I am Turkish, but then there are Kurds...
mi-e ruine c sunt ceh i m-am lsat clcat, I am ashamed that I am Czech and allowed myself to be
[tot aa mi-e i mie foarte ruine zic unii care simt stifled
13
o ruine extrem i ascund arme prin cmri, pndind (I am just as ashamed myself some say, who feel
momentul shame in its extremity and hide weapons in pantries,
s-i spele ruinea n sngele dumanului lor waiting for that moment
dintotdeauna] in which they wash away their shame with the blood of
traditional enemies)
mi-e ruine c sunt ortodox ori catolic i-am mprit n dou I am ashamed that I am Orthodox or Catholic and I wedge
muntele pe care a sngerat Isus: dup care au fcut unii and split
buci i mai mici din Golgota Sa dedesupt, the mountain on which Jesus bled before others made
mi-e ruine c sunt indian pentru c, ah, ce s mai vorbim, even smaller
mi-e ruine c sunt macedonean, dar la greci s le fie i mai pieces out of his Golgotha below
mult I am ashamed that I am Indian because... well, its no matter
mi-e ruine c sunt coreean de-ai lui Kim Ir Sen I am ashamed that being Macedonian I let the Greeks be
mi-e ruine c sunt coreean de oriunde, ct vreme exist even more
coreeni de-ai lui Kim Ir Sen, I am ashamed that I am Korean and one of Kim Ir Sens
mi-e ruine c sunt srb, dar s m mai gndesc I am ashamed that I am Korean no matter where, as long as
mi-e ruine c sunt chinez pentru c: eti chinez, m? Kim Ir Sens Koreans remain
mi-e ruine c sunt romn pentru c Ceauescu Dracula of I am ashamed that I am Serbian, but... let me think
course I am ashamed that I am Chinese because: Youre Chinese?
iar acum, vai, toi romnii tia prin lume... I am ashamed that I am Romanian because of Ceasusescu,
de neamul meu mi-e ruine i cnd nu mi-e ruine Dracula of course
14
oricum fiecare a uitat cte ceva and now, God, all these Romanians all over the world...
Everyone: fill in the blanks! I am ashamed of my nation even when I am not ashamed
but each of us seeks to forget something
I am ashamed because .......... [Everyone: fill in the blanks, write
yours here!]
dar tu, dar tu tu, tu but you, but you you, only you
tu, din neamul tu care-a umplut pmntul gol you, whose nation filled the desolate earth with life and
de via i buntate kindness
tu eti acest om, o nou zi ncepe you are the man who begins the new day
azi today
cu primul tu pas with your first step
15
Ion Mircea
(b. 1947)
Amprenta Fingerprint
Ea mi-a fost totdeauna mult mai aproape she has always been much closer
dect palmele mele, dect amprentele. than my palms, my fingerprints.
amprentele-mi las acest dig, acest plns mpietrit al fiinei my prints leave a dam, a stony wail of my being outside in
afar, n materie, the matter,
pe cnd ea i-a lsat nluntrul meu acest dig, but she leaves this dam inside me,
acest plns mpietrit, ca un omor tinuit, this stony wail, like a secret killing,
ea i-a lsat amprentele peste tot n mine nsumi. she has left her fingerprints everywhere in me.
ea este-n mine iar eu sunt mprejurul ei, afar, she is inside of me and I am outside of her, all around her,
pereii, grdina, the walls, the garden,
aura inconfundabil a oraului, coroanele de fotoni the unmistakable halo of the town, the photon crowns
ale caselor. eu sunt mprejurul ei, of houses. I am all around her,
afar, una din amprentele ei, outside, one of her fingerprints,
amprenta acestui dig, acestui plns mpietrit n materie. the fingerprint of this dam, this stony wail in the matter.
17
Adrian Popescu
(b. 1947)
Ochiul arznd se hrnete din cear The burning eye feeds on wax
i face un strop de rou fierbinte and makes a few hot beads drip down
Odat am tiut s zbor, odat, Once I learned to fly, once
Dovad n-am, dar mi aduc aminte. I had proof, but I remember having flown.
Struguri Grapes
Dac nu-i pot ncarna imaginile If we are not alive in our images
ce le mai rmne poeilor? what remains of poets?
Lidia Vianu
(b. 1947)
my cup of light
share
my last cup of light
before we both
grow blank and
white
21
Ion Zubacu
(1948)
iat secretul cel mai bine pzit al lumii acesteia: here is the best guarded secret in this world:
cuvintele noastre predetermin realitatea our words predetermine reality
ce gndete creierul nostru modeleaz cursul zilei de mine what our brain thinks shapes the way tomorrow goes
iar visele pot fi programate, tiai? and dreams can be programmed, did you know that?
mnnci seara o turt de pine srat in the evening you eat salty bread
ca fetele de pe Valea Izei baked on embers in the oven
n noaptea de Sntandrei sau de Anul Nou like girls in the Iza valley
coapt pe jarul cuptorului on Saint Andrews night or New Years Eve
cel care i va aduce ap n vis he who brings you water in your dream
va fi ursitul nunii tale viitoare will be your bridegroom
sarea din turt cheam visele i pe cel visat the salt in the bread calls dreams and the one you dream of
las-l n morii lumii pe Cioran Forget Cioran and all the dead in the world
cu sinuciderea lui lent ca un rsrit de soare forget his slow suicide, like a sunrise
dragostea lui te-a mbtat cu destul moarte you got drunk on his love which was just so much death
alege-i cu grij cuvintele cu care vorbeti choose carefully the words you utter
schimb-le nnoiete-le roag-te ncepe s te rogi change them renew them begin to pray
22
miracolul nu se ntmpl dect cu cei ce cred n miracole miracles only happen to those who believe in miracles.
23
Doamne ct am putut rtci pn acum pe mri i oceane God how Ive roamed syntactical seas and far-off oceans
sintactice meaning to save a few precious words from this shipwreck of
voind s salvez cteva cuvinte de pre din naufragiul acestei the world
lumi but today morning came holding out an open Bible
dar a venit dimineaa zilei de azi cu Biblia deschis n mn and from Matthew 4.19 I understood that it is far more
i am neles din Matei 4,19 c e mult mai de pre pentru important to God
Domnul to save a few honest human beings at least
s salvez mcar civa oameni adevrai from the shipwreck of all the words in the world
din naufragiul cuvintelor lumii
Oboseala aceasta de sfrit de lume The end of the world has me exhausted
v rog s mi-o nelegei. please understand.
Nu Stop
mai ridicai ochii spre cer i looking up at the sky and
nu stop
mai cerei. keeping on asking.
25
Ioana Crciunescu
(1950)
Delirul Delirium
Oboseala aceasta de sfrit de lume The end of the world has me exhausted
v rog s mi-o nelegei. please understand.
Nu Stop
mai ridicai ochii spre cer i looking up at the sky and
nu stop
mai cerei. keeping on asking.
26
Dumnezeu se ntoarce pe partea cealalt God Rolls Over onto His Other Side
de ce why
de ce m-am nscut n romnia i nu ntr-o familie de tigri why was i born in romania, not in a family of tigers
din grdina zoologic, at the zoo,
de ce aici, unde am ajuns, nimic nu are sens i de ce why does nothing make sense here, where i have landed, and
lumina de acum s-a nscut din why
ntunericul a ceea ce am fost eu 58 de ani, de ce ntorci was this light born out of
capul, dac eu sunt nainte i rspund: the darkness that was my life for 58 years, why are you
sunt aici i acum fiindc trebuia s fiu aici i acum turning
your head if i am ahead let me answer all that:
i am here and now because i had to be here and now
28
Miresme vtmtoare i diferite forme de rtciri, ba Harmful odours and various kinds of wanderings, even
cnta i cucul cnd a ajuns din urm o the cuckoo sang when he caught up with an
biseric neterminat, pus pe patru roi, plin de gutui, cu unfinished church, placed on four wheels, full of quinces,
limba scoas. tongue out.
I s-a prut c are n faa ochilor o adevrat ntrire n It seemed to him he was looking on his youthful grace
necunoscut a graiei sale, din tineree. Mai ales c era sub o come back stronger from the unknown. Especially as he was
impresie under the deep
profund, atunci, a sfatului unui venerabil ef de trib s impression of a venerable tribal chiefs advice that he
caute o biseric neterminat, mergtoare, i s should
se roage n ea: c tcerea, ndelung practicat, nu-i place lui find an unfinished church on wheels and
Dumnezeu, deoarece i te ascunzi Cnd a pray in it: since God hates long
silences, because you hide from him... When he
ajuns-o din urm, a constatat c, de fapt, biserica asta
neterminat era o simpl cru tras de cai, caught up with it, he realized that this unfinished
care scria ngrozitor. i n care nu te puteai urca, s te rogi, church was merely a wagon pulled by horses,
fiind creaking terribly. You could not climb into it to pray, as
plin vrf cu it was loaded with
tot felul de roade stricate, adunate la ntmplare, ale acestor all kinds of the rotten fruit of this age, gathered at random.
vremuri.
29
Having thus found himself again, he sat down on the wagons
Regsit, s-a aezat pe coada cruei. tongue.
30
Nichita Danilov
(b. 1952)
Anotimp Season
... Cine ne-a deschis n frunte aceste ferestre, ...Who opened these windows in our foreheads,
cine ne-a zidit n piept who built these
aceste scunde ui? secondary doors in our chests?
Prin mine umblu ca printr-un anotimp bolnav. I walk inside me as if in a diseased season.
Glasul mamei l aud prin zidul ntunecat: I hear mothers voice from beyond the dark wall:
De ce ai venit aici, Why are you here,
pentru ce te-ai ntors? why have you come back?
Pleac, iei ct mai ai timp. Go, out with you while there is still time.
Glasul fratelui l aud stins, ca prin ap: I hear my elder brothers voice as if muffled by water:
31
Iei ct mai repede din aceast lumin Get out of this light as soon as you can
i las-m singur and leave me alone
s respir n umbra mea... to breathe in my own shadow...
Prin mine trec ca printr-un ciudat anotimp. I walk across myself as if I were some strange season.
Cu easta lui Yorick n mini, m ntreb: Yoricks skull in my hands, I wonder:
Dac am secerat If I have reaped
unde i ce am secerat? where and what was it I reaped?
i dac adun, cnd i pe cine adun? And if I harvest, when, whom am I harvesting?
32
Timp Time
Mircea Petean
(b. 1952)
Din ciclul Urzeli (poeme taoiste) From the cycle Textures (Taoist poems)
xxx xxx
Din ciclul Toi anii aceia From the cycle All Those Years
ieisei n cmp deschis you had gone out into the field
cnd pe dat lumea se rupse n dou when all of a sudden the world broke into two
de o parte ceata celor cu urzici moarte la butonier on one side a group of people with dead stinging nettles at
i tabra celor cu scaiei n bandulier de cealalt parte the buttonhole
on the other a group with thistles in their shoulder belts
de toi te apropia deprtarea
distance brought us closer to them all
36
Eugen Suciu
(b. 1952)
(de patru ierni la mine n camer (in my room, for four winters,
lumina the light
scuip cheaguri de snge) has been spitting blood clots)
la 30 de ani at thirty
nc m fascineaz marile teme: I am still fascinated by the great themes:
iubire. ur. singurtate. love. hate. solitude.
la 30 de ani at thirty
cineva n lacrimile mele someone hammers
izbete cu ciocanul at my tears
pianjenul din colul camerei the spider in the corner of the room
iar m iubete cu voce tare loves me aloud again
la 30 de ani at thirty
nc mai scot femeia din mnec I still pull a woman out of my sleeve
fiindc acum tiu ce e viaa mea: because now I know what my life is:
70 la sut ap 70 percent water
i 30 la sut and 30 percent
nevoia de a sufla n urechea Ofeliei the urge to whisper something witty
o vorb de duh in Ophelias ear.
40
Andrei Zanca
(b. 1952)
Astfel So
pdurile rmn, ndeprtndu-se de noi. forests remain, farther and farther away from us.
Azi Today
mirrored by becoming
rsfrnte ntr-o devenire dinspre care so: I am here still,
se poate spune: sunt aici today, when
nc i azi, cnd its no longer easy
nu mai e uor to perish
s te stingi in your mother
n graiul tongue
matern
43
Marian Drghici
(b. 1953)
*** ***
n ce m privete it seems to me
44
n-am dect s mor de foame i may as well starve
ntr-o fntn seac din Balcani inside a dry Balkanic well
dac la att m-a dus capul. if that is all i was good at.
n-am dect s m cutremur de plns la trompet i may as well cry bitterly into my trumpet
singur cu cocoul de tabl de pe cas left alone with the sheet-metal weathercock on the roof
noaptea n lumina lunii at night in the moonlight
doar-doar then maybe
va disprea viziunea it will go away, this vision of a bucket
unei glei cobornd n fntn lowered into the well
plin cu ochi omeneti full of human eyes
zbieretele plozilor de lapte pironii de zidul cocovit of the shrieks of babies wriggling on dilapidated walls
pieile jupuiilor de vii atrnnd la uscat pe crengile duzilor. of raw skins hung out to dry on mulberry branches.
Paul Vinicius
(b. 1953)
cincizeciidoi fiftytwo
acum vreo zece douzeci treizeci de ani some twenty thirty years ago
luam eu viaa n mini i took my life in my own two hands
i zdronc! and bang!
cu ea de pmnt i flung it to the ground
i uite and look
c nu s-a spart. it didnt break.
oh oh
mare e puterea ta bless your power
vrabie sparrow
salcmule acacia
crtio. mole.
51
Gabriel Chifu
(b. 1954)
n somn In My Sleep
(o viziune) (a vision)
Denisa Comnescu
(b. 1954)
Poate c ntre pieptene i oglind Between the comb and the mirror
i scuipi melancolia you may be spitting your melancholy
ca pe o jumtate de mr putrezit. out like a rotten half apple.
Pendulul exact al machiajului The precise pendulum of your makeup
arat ora shows the time
cnd minile i umbl pe faa brbatului while your hands touch a mans face
ca peste o hart necunoscut like an unknown map
i orele de conversaie cu vduva timpului it shows the hours of conversation with times widow
(acolo unde nimeni nu are curajul cuvintelor) (when no one dares to speak)
ora cnd nc mai crezi the hour when you still believe
c marea e o vulpe albastr the sea is a blue fox
ce se gudur i-i linge picioarele fawning and licking at your feet
i ora cnd extazul animal the hour when animal ecstasy
te poart prin muzee de cai... takes you to horse museums...
Cltoreti de fiecare dat Each time you travel
o jumtate de staie half a stop
55
obligatoriu o jumtate de staie always half a stop
pentru jumtatea de mr putrezit. for half a rotten apple.
56
Privind stejarii din faa cminului de fete Gazing at the Oak-trees in front of the Girls Dorm
Traian T. Coovei
(1954-2014)
Vremea marilor ploi s-a sfrit, cea a martirilor s-a topit pe The era of rain is over, the time of martyrs has melted on
ruguri. stakes.
Timpul zborului rndunicii s-a isprvit: nici lupilor The days when swallows flew are over: it is just as bad for
nu le merge mai bine. the wolves.
Acesta este un sfrit din care lipsete tocmai sfritul. This is an endless end.
Este nceputul unei mari despriri din care lipsete It is the beginning of a total separation even missing
chiar desprirea cu toate argumentele ei: cum ar fi cderea separation itself, and all its arguments: like leaves falling,
frunzelor, like burial of the dead, like clouds no longer
cum ar fi ngroparea mortului, cum ar fi norii able to bring rain.
care nu se mai nduplec a ploaie.
Din aceast secet de cuvinte nu se nate nimic. From this drought of words, nothing is born.
58
Din aceast secet de cuvinte, deertul urc pn la acoperiuri From this drought of words, the desert climbs to the roof
iar fntnile sunt pline de copiii setei de a fi fost. and wells are full of chidren, of a thirst for having existed.
Plin de nisip este gura mea... nu praf, nici pulbere. My mouth is full of sand... not dust or powder.
Pline de nisip cuvintele care se spulber n vnt! Words are full of sand, they crumble in the wind!
Am ndeajuns vrsta la care alii pot muri pentru mine. I have aged enough. Others may die for me now.
59
Acolo era soarta celor nvini i chiar acolo There was the fate of the defeated and right there with
viitorul luminos al ospului. them the bright promise of the feast.
60
Magda Crneci
(b. 1955)
De-ar veni, de-ar veni un pete rou i mic If only, if only a small red fish would come
ochii de aur s-i scoat din oceanul apatic s m ntrebe show his golden eyes above the apathetic ocean and
spune-mi trei dorine, trei vise i eu s nu pot spune nici unul ask me
to make three wishes, to have three dreams I cant come
up with one
De-ar veni, de-ar veni o maree nalt, cald i roie If only, if only the tides would come, burning
s ne ia de pe rm, s ne spele, s ne nfure to wash us off the shore, to take us, wrap us
i ca semine fr memorie s ne ngroape n caldul sn, n and bury us like amnesiac seeds in its warm bosom, its vast
vastul pntec womb
De-ar veni, de-ar veni orice, oricine, ceva, cineva, If only, if only something, someone, anything, anyone
o raz de lumin neagr, apocaliptic, o toxin efervescent, would come,
narcotic, a ray of dark apocalyptic light, an effervescent narcotic
un nou frison, o nou nelinite, un salt instantaneu ntr-o toxin,
altfel de lume, a new shiver, a new anxiety, a leap into a different world,
de-ar veni un alt om, un alt creier de-ar veni un gnd if only there could be another man, another wisdom, a
care s ne gndeasc pe toi s ne scape de noi, s ne new thought
aboleasc to think us all to deliver us from ourselves, to abolish us
cnd vom nceta, univers, suflete, s suferim durerile facerii and we cease, universe, souls, if only we could endure the
birthing pain
i s dormim...s murim...s dormims urcm n to sleep... die... sleep... to rise again into Imagination...
Imaginar
62
Nu vor fi cecue fine de China aburind ceai de opiu There will be no fine China cups with steaming opium tea
nici petale de ofran pe un altar indian de piatr btrn no saffron petals on an old stone Indian altar
Broate estoase de Galapagos nu vor fi distilate n sup No Galapagos turtles will be distilled into soup
nici maimue pitice dresate s cnte cnd li se despic fin no dwarf monkeys will be trained to sing when their little
cporul heads are gently cracked open
Nu vom alunga norii de ploaie radioactiv nspre Sahara We will not drive radioactive rain clouds over the Sahara
i nici o uria sfer de foc nu va fi plantat n Groenlanda no huge fire ball will be planted in Greenland
Nu ne vor nfige electrozi amari pe limb nc de la coala No one will stick bitter electrodes into our tongues in
primar primary school
nici nu ne vor nmuli pe alese n mici borcnae de sticl no one will choose us for multiplication in small glass jars
Nu ne vor cabla pe unii cu alii la computerul universal No one will wire us together and plug us in to the universal
la miliardele sale de monitoare computer
Pe care s se vad naterea unei noi religii simultan pe with billions of screens
ntreaga planet To show the birth of a new religion simultaneously at all
Nu ne vor vrea dect Binele. points around the globe
They will only want whats best for us.
Iar noi, omizi tinere n labirinturi aseptice We, young caterpillars in sterile mazes,
cutnd disperat o ieire din marele experiment cripto-celest frantic to find a way out of the great crypto-celestial
sub lumina orbitoare a milioane de sori, milioane de bii experiment
63
Tot nu ne vom transforma n translucide fiine under the blinding light of millions of suns, millions of bytes
hotrte s se nale, s zboare spre cosmosuri mai clemente. Will not transform into translucent creatures
Ci, ca demni urmai ai gndacului de Colorado destined to soar, to swim the skies of more merciful cosmos.
liric, postistoric i predivin Like worthy descendants of the lyrical, posthistorical,
Vom lua cu asalt pereii laboratorului predivine Colorado beetle
ndreptndu-ne victorioi, ordonat, spre buctrie. We will assail the laboratory walls
and head, in victorious formal order, for the kitchen.
64
Ion Murean
(b. 1955)
Sentimentul mrii ntr-o crcium mic A Sense of the Sea in a Small Pub
Ea st pe genunchiul lui. La orice micare Shes sitting on his knee. At every move
scaunul ip sub ei ca un pescru. the chair creaks under them like a seagulls cry.
Morii ei de via zice el din cnd n cnd, Hell of a life he says at times,
dar brbatul cu barb ce ade n faa lor nu aude. but the bearded man facing him cant hear.
(Cotul pe mas, mna ca o scoic la ureche). (Elbow on the table, a seashell behind his ear).
Brbosul aude doar un vuiet de valuri i lin, odat cu masa, The bearded man only hears the sea, the waves, and he and
se clatin n btaia valurilor. the table
rock gently, out at sea.
Acum mna lui se aez grea pe coapsa ei. Now his hand weighs heavy on her thigh.
Brbosul se apleac i scuip de parc ar fi but nisip. The bearded man bends and spits as if he had drunk sand.
Mna urc i urc. Acum el i simte cu degetul mare prin rochie The hand goes higher up. Through her dress, his forefinger
pubisul rotund i tare ca un ou de lemn. touches
Morii ei de via zice el. i her round pubis, hard as a wooden egg.
Eti grea, nevast, treci pe cellalt genunchi! Hell of a life he says. And then
Youre heavy, wife, sit on my other knee!
65
Ea se ridic iar brbosul o dezbrac cu privirea.
tie bine c asta face, cci o ustur snii. De parc i-ar arde She stands up while the bearded mans eyes undress her.
rochia She knows it, because her nipples sting. As if he had set fire
cu o lamp cu benzin. Apoi degetele aspre to her dress with a gas-lighter. Then harsh fingers
strng carnea moale dintre coapse. O dat. i gata. squeeze the soft flesh between the thighs. Just. Once.
Brbosul privete departe. Privete draperia roie care The bearded man looks into the distance. Hes staring at the
mascheaz red curtain hanging
intrarea la WC. Cnd draperia se mic, vine un miros greu de at the entrance to the toilet. When the curtain moves, heavy
alge. scents of seaweed float.
Draperia flutur ca o zdrean de nor dimineaa n larg. The curtain waves like a thin cloud far out at sea at dawn.
Morii ei de via zice omul ctre femeia lui. Hell of a life the man tells the woman.
Aude i brbatul cu barb. Soarele nu a rsrit, The bearded man hears that. The sun isnt up,
soarele nostru nc nu a rsrit zice brbatul. the man says our sun isnt up yet.
66
Marta Petreu
(b. 1955)
Mereu rmne o zon neprotejat: un dans pe nervul optic There is always an unprotected area: a dance on the optic nerve
o cea cu limba adnc sub zpad a bitch with its tongue buried deep in the snow
protestul retinei la lumina solar the retina objecting to sunlight
aorta ce picur ritmic the aorta dripping rhythmically
Forma rotundul frigidul senzuale sub ploaie Shape circle frigid sensuous in the rain
Ct putem tri nfrii cu teroarea? trupul neted How long can we live at one with this terror? the smooth body
copit grajd al cuvntului hoof stable of the word
Nu uitai privirea provincial aspr Do not forget the look provincially harsh
auzul ncptor al marionetei the welcoming ear of the puppet
aceast piele somolent porii de sticl this sleepy skin the glass pores
Umilitor de singur creierul meu se contempl Humiliatingly alone, my brain gazes at itself
n reliefuri externe in the external shapes it sees
* *
69
Iat creierul meu obosind n capricii savante Here is my brain growing tired in scholarly whims
creierul meu camuflat ntr-o mnu de box my brain hidden in a boxing glove
creierul meu lunecos pocnind ca o piele de iap my slippery brain bursting like the skin of a mare
70
Amuite sunt marile lucrri ale facerii The important acts of creation are mute
tcute lucrurile quiet objects
nimic nu mai vorbete nothing speaks any more
Un soare alb ca o lun de carton A white sun like a cardboard moon
un soare de doi bani lumineaz peisajul a cheap sun lights the landscape
ntinderea aceasta prbuit n sine this space fallen into itself
Un lucru de nimic este i inima mea nemaiiubitoare My no longer loving heart is as useless
Pentru bezn pentru ru se deschide ea la cderea morii Opening to darkness and evil at the fall of death
71
Matei Viniec
(b. 1956)
Corabia se scufunda ncet noi ziceam The ship sank down slowly we said
i ce dac se scufund corabia i mai so what if the ship sinks and we also
ziceam orice corabie se scufund said any ship can sink
ntr-o zi i ne strngeam minile one day and we shook hands
ne luam rmas bun and said goodbye
dar corabia se scufunda att de ncet but the ship was sinking so slowly
nct dup zece zile noi cei care that after ten days those of us who had
ne-am dat minile nc ne priveam shaken hands were still looking at each other
ruinai i ziceam nu-i nimic asta-i ashamed and said never mind so what
o corabie care se scufund mai ncet a ship which sinks more slowly
dar pn la urm se scufund iat-o still sinks in the end
dar corabia se scufunda att de ncet but the ship was sinking so slowly
nct dup un an nc ne era ruine that a year later we were ashamed
nou celor care ne-am dat minile i we who had shaken hands and
72
n fiecare diminea ieeam unul cte unul every morning we would file out
msuram apa hm nu mai e mult se consider the water level hmm not long now
scufund ncet dar sigur it sinks its slow but sure
dar corabia se scufunda att de ncet but the ship was sinking so slowly
nct dup o via de om nc that after a lifetime we would still
mai ieeam unul cte unul i priveam file out one by one and consider
cerul i msuram apa i scrneam din dini the sky and the water and grind our teeth
i spuneam asta nu e o corabie and say this is no ship
aste e o... its a...
asta e o... its a...
73
tiam din surs sigur c florile I knew for a fact that the flowers
urmau s nvie n urmtoarele 48 de ore were to rise again within the next 48 hours
cu morii nu era sigur, ei mai trebuiau s atepte not so certain for dead men, they had longer to wait
dar florile de pe mormintele lor but the flowers there on their graves those
urmau s nvie n urmtoarele 3 zile were to be resurrected within the next 3 days
74
Carmen Firan
(b. 1958)
n fiecare zi oceanul aduce la mal altceva Every day the ocean would bring something new to the shore
este mncate de corali, alge nnodate n ruinele skulls eaten by corals, seaweed tangled in some
vreunei nave blestemate rvnite i abandonate shipwreck of a cursed boat first desired then abandoned
scoici albe uierndu-i tristeea white seashells whistling with sadness
i lemne nnegrite de somn and wood dark with sleep
meduze cu pielea umflat de propria otrav medusae whose skin swelled with their own poison
trupul meu tnr nchis ntr-o sticl cu gtul crpat my young body enclosed within a bottle with a cracked neck
i trimis demult s-i caute norocul n larg sent long ago to find its fortune out at sea
iar n alte zile oceanul nu mai aduce nimic while on other days the ocean would bring nothing more
vapoarele cu burta plin plutesc atente ships with full bellies would sail carefully
pe linia orizontului subiat at the thin horizon
ca i cum n mruntaiele apelor s-ar pregti ceva as if something were happening in the waters entrails
ca i cum s-ar lsa noaptea as if night were falling
nainte ca ziua s se sfreasc. before day ended.
75
Liviu Georgescu
(b. 1958)
Cenua ne poart smbetele frate, ne poart pic, Ashes hate and envy us, brother,
cronicile nu mai vor s ne apere, annals will no longer protect us,
voievozii nu mai ctitoresc, i uite, afar zpezile mor fr leaders no longer build, and, see, snow dies helplessly outside.
leac. Dust will not bear with us any more, father, burdened as it is with
Nu mai vor s ne in, tat, rnile sparte de vremi, time,
de copite barbare, de viclnii din lun, barbarian hoofs, moon cunning,
de clevetitorii-n simbrii. paid slanderers.
Nu mai vor s ne-adune oasele, ulcioarele ce gem Those buried broken moaning urns will no longer
sparte-n pmnt. Uite cum am ancorat plopii de zare, keep our bones. Look, child, how I have attached poplars to the
copile, horizon
cu bandaje i crpe, with bandages and rags,
s nu sngereze, for fear they should bleed,
s nu lcrimeze floarea salcmilor n ciuturi, surato. for fear the acacia flowers should shed tears in buckets, sister.
S-au ascuns copiii-n armuri. Children have hidden behind armour.
S-au stricat cucuruzii sub voaluri de mireas. Corn has decayed under bridal veils.
Limbile ceasului nu mai clipesc. The clock hands are still.
77
i mama ne leag de curcubee cu funii de cnepi, And mother ties them to rainbows with hempen ropes,
s nu ne prpdeasc potopul. Ne leag de nori cu visele for fear the flood should kill us all. With her dreams, she ties us to
ei. the clouds.
78
Pe jumtate Half
n timp ce n dreptul ferestrei norul se nnegrea While the cloud darkened at the window
Ca o scfrlie de nger ngropat n albastrul venic, Like an angels skull buried in eternal blue,
Tu puneai apa la fiert ca s-mi pregteti ceaiul. You were boiling water for my tea.
Apa scotea mici ipete, aa mi imaginam facerea cerului: The water let out small cries, and I imagined how heaven was
din aburul adunat made:
de la attea piei asudate de privighetori out of the steam coming
care cntau o missa solemnis la nesfrit, silnic from so many sweaty nightingale skins
sau care ngnau pur i simplu neputina de a as they sang unwillingly an endless missa solemnis
fi pentru o noapte om. or simply hummed their impossibility of
being human for one night.
Nimnui nu-i este indiferent clipa ce trece, No one is indifferent to the passage of time,
Nici clipei nsi care se vede Not even time which sees itself
Pe sine trecnd. Apa fierbea. Norul se nnegrea i mai tare. In passing. The water boiled. The clouds darkness deepened.
80
Oamenii n-au bucurii multe. Trec livizi unul pe lng altul Humans have few joys. They pass one another unseen
Mcinai de adevruri finale. Ceaiul curgea prin mine Consumed by final truths. The tea ran through me straight
prelingndu-se Into the sky. Love? It had to be there it had turned into
Direct n cer. Iubirea? C trebuia s fie i iubirea se An elf who was slowly biting his nails.
prefcuse The cloud at the window had exploded
ntr-un spiridu care i rodea tacticos unghiile. Like a breast with black milk.
Norul din dreptul ferestrei explodase
Ca un sn cu lapte negru.
81
Sentina Sentence
Nimic mai trist ca o duminic n care toi Nothing sadder than a Sunday when all
prietenii au plecat din ora friends have left town
strzile au devenit strine i lungi the streets are long and strange
crile au nostalgii primare i scutur the books have primeval yearnings and shake their
literele ca pe nite cenui inutile letters like useless ashes
sunt gata s scoat muguri verzi ready to blossom with green leaves
i mine chiar s cred c se va da sentina and believe that the sentence would be pronounced tomorrow
sec flatly
fr s o aflu vreodat and I would never know it
83
Bogdan Ghiu
(b. 1958)
ioan es pop
(b. 1958)
dincolo beyond
sunt aproape douzeci de ani de cnd dincolo a disprut. it has been almost twenty years since he went beyond. a little
cu doar puin nainte i nc-n timpul vieii mele, dincolo before and then during my time, beyond was the only place
era singurul lucru care exista cu adevrat, singurul pentru real, the only place worth living for. beyond was food and
care merita s trieti. dincolo ne inea loc de mncare i de drink to us, heat, shelter, incredible things were said about it,
butur, de cldur i de adpost, se zvoneau despre el it worked within us, it was strong, it made tomorrow
lucruri grozave, lucra pe dinuntrul nostru cu putere i possible, though tomorrow was the same as yesterday, and
fcea posibil ziua care urma s vin, dei aceasta era tot the same tomorrow.
cea de ieri, tot cea de mine.
viena, budapesta, belgrad toate veneau de dincolo i vienna, budapest, belgrade... everything came from beyond
dincolo se ntmplau toate. cnd nimic nu mai prea and beyond was where everything happened. when nothing
posibil, dincolo era singurul posibil, dei nu-l ntlniserm was possible any more, beyond was possible, though no one
vreodat. iubirea locuia dincolo. norocul locuia dincolo. had ever actually seen it. love lived beyond. luck, too. hope
sperana locuia dincolo. dumnezeu locuia dincolo. did. and god himself.
apoi s-a fcut brusc dincolo i am aflat astfel c nu la acel
dincolo visaserm cnd am ajuns dincolo. zece ani mai then suddenly beyond was here, and, once there, we found it
trziu, cnd despre dincolo nici nu se mai vorbea, am was not what we had been dreaming of. ten years later, when
86
neles c de fapt cu ct ajungeam mai dincolo, cu atta no more was said about beyond, we understood at last that
dincolo se-ndeprta, nu mai locuia nici la viena, nici la the further we advanced into it, the farther away it was, it
budapesta sau belgrad, nici mcar la londra sau paris. was no longer in vienna, budapest or belgrade, not even in
london or paris.
acum tiu c, dac l vom mai dori din rsputeri, va trebui now i know, if we keep on longing and longing for it, we will
s mergem dincolo de dincolo, att de dincolo, nct acolo have to go beyond beyond, so far beyond that our here
s nu mai rmn nici urm de dincoace. vom putea ajunge would no longer have existed. would we go by train? not
cu trenul? nicidecum. cu vaporul? nu, oricte mri am possible. by steamer? no, not by all the seas in the world. by
strbate. cu avionul? nici mcar dac-am cltori o mie de plane? not even if we travelled a thousand years without a
ani fr escal. n mod sigur ns dincolo se afl pe undeva port of call. undoubtedly, though, beyond is close by, very
pe-aproape, foarte pe-aproape. dar nu pe direcia noastr close by. it just isnt in our direction.
de mers.
87
nu tiu ce l-a apucat pe tatl meu s-njuge boii la car ive no idea why father put the oxen to the cart
la doipe noaptea, s m trezeasc i s-mi spun hai. at midnight, woke me up and said come on.
eu dup ce mor dorm somnuri lungi. unde, am zis, when i die i sleep. where, i asked,
a zis: la omcuta mare. ce putea s-l mne pe el and he said: to big shomcutza. what did he want
n miez de noapte tocmai la omcuta mare, at midnight all the way to big shomcutza,
la atta drum de satul nostru? i de ce s nu ia so far away from our village? why not take
autobuzul, dimineaa la ase, de ce s umblm the six oclock bus in the morning, why should we go
patru ceasuri ncolo, patru ceasuri ncoace four hours to and four hours back
cu mersul moale i greoi al boilor notri? at the slow heavy pace of our oxen?
dac-i pe-aa, n-o s m mai prindei acas de-acum prea devreme, if it comes to that, you wont see me home any time soon,
n-o s m trezesc n miez de noapte pentru o nebunie ca asta. i just wont wake up in the dead of night, its crazy.
i-atunci se apropie ea i zice: scoal and then she comes and says: wake up
dragul mamei, tatl tu my dearest, your father
tocmai pleac s te-aduc de la omcuta, is on his way to bring you from shomcutza,
du-te s-l ajui s te ridice, go help him lift you up,
de trei zile zaci acolo fr suflare. you have been lying there dead for three days.
i abia de-au ajuns s ne dea de tire ast sear, they only let us know last night,
dragul nostru. dear one.
88
Lucian Vasilescu
(b. 1958)
ca printr-un ochean, prin fundul paharului lumea-mi apare as if through a spyglass, through the bottom of this tumbler,
mai aproape, mai mare. the world is closer, larger.
mi port nemurirea la cingtoare. i wear eternity as my girdle.
n rani bastonul de mareal. papuci i pijama albastr in my knapsack my marshals cane. slippers and blue
aa cum pyjamas
am fugit din balamuc, how i fled the madhouse,
pe fereastr. by the window.
acum, de pe puntea cea mai nalt scrutez deprtrile. now, on the highest deck, i peer at the horizon. i scurry
cutreier tirelessly through psychoses, depression, nerves, the seas. my
neobosit psihozele, depresiile, nevrozele, mrile. pe trup body is
port rni scarred from the fight
adnci rmase din lupta with perfusions, with electric shocks, childhood, illusions.
cu perfuziile, cu electroocurile, copilria, iluziile. the crew rebelled one day and left me. im all alone
echipajul s-a rsculat ntr-o zi i m-a prsit. sunt singur on the endless ocean.
pe oceanul fr de sfrit. my hope is to end by discovering the promised word. part of
am credina c voi descoperi odat i-odat cuvntul me. flesh
promis. trup of my flesh.
89
din trupul meu, carne din carnea mea. tiu c-l voi gsi: i know i will:
voi ngenunchea, i deasupra cerul, mprejururi ap, voi i will kneel down, the sky above and water all around, and i
spa will dig
ntr-nsul, cu minile, groap. apoi m-oi aede i voi atepta a hole with my hands. i will lie down in it and wait
pn-o s se-ndure domnul s m ia. till god is willing to have me.
ca printr-un ochean, prin fundul paharului lumea-mi apare as if through a spyglass, through the bottom of this tumbler,
mai the world
aproape, mai mare. is closer, larger.
mi port nemurirea la cingtoare. i wear eternity as my girdle.
n rani bastonul de mareal. in my knapsack my marshals cane.
sunt cel mai bun poet din acest spital. i am the best poet in this hospital.
90
tot ce am neles este c fr mine lumea ar fi perfect. c all i know is that the world would be perfect without me.
disperarea ar despair
disprea. c soarele n-ar mai apune nicicnd pe calea ta. c would be gone. the sun would never set for you. that angels
ngerii ar would
cobor pe pmnt i-ar cnta. din alute come down to earth and sing. their lutes
aurii, strlucitoare, mute. c cerul s-ar umple cu flori, c golden, bright, soundless. the air would drown in flowers, the
stelele stars
s-ar legna n copaci, c cerul s-ar scurge-n cascade, n hang from the trees, the sky would tumble in cascades, into the
mare. sea.
iar pe dnsul vor lsa dre corbii. cu pnze, ships would furrow it. sailing ships
ncrcate cu mirodenii. c orice vis s-ar putea mplini. orice loaded with spices. any dream could come true. any delusion.
vedenii.
tot ce tiu este c fr mine lumea ar fi mai bun. c soarele all i know is the world would be better without me. the sun
n-ar mai would
apune, c n-ar mai fi lun. doar dumnezeu ar umbla din never set, there would never be moonlight. god would go from
cas n cas, house
ntrebnd ce s-a ales de lumea lui, pe care-o crezuse to house, alone, asking what became of his splendid world.
frumoas.
91
i chiar fusese aa, pn la mine. pn cnd m-am nscut i splendid it had been, till i came along. when i was born, the
viitorul future
s-a prefcut n vechime. i mine n ieri. pe unde nu mai e became the past. tomorrow turned into yesterday, in a deserted
nimeni, i place
nicieri. tot ce am neles este c fr mine lumea ar fi that is nowhere. all i know is that the world would be wondrous
minunat. without me. like a prayer recited from the end
ca o rugciune rostit de la sfrit la-nceput. rsturnat. to the beginning. backwards.
ntr-o limb inexistent, melodioas. ntr-o limb din care in a melodious language never invented. a language from which
nimeni n-ar mai ajunge acas. we could never come home.
92
Daniel Bnulescu
(b. 1960)
Strada Cderea Bastiliei 19. Mansard. Cmrua Cubby 4, Attic, 19 The Fall of the Bastille Street
numrul 4
Tu nu eti nici proast nici surd You are neither deaf nor daft
Dar nici de cine tie ce calitate Though maybe not the full twelve pence
Tu te urci nclat i ud You step on my identity card
Pe buletinul meu de identitate When your shoes are soaking wet
Femeia din pat prea limba de cine pofticioas a The woman in bed resembled a mans greedy dog-like
brbatului i-am spus tongue I told you
Dup ce am ajuns acas When I got back home
i am pregtit mpreun senzualii cartofi prjii And together we made sensuous fried potatoes
Iar noaptea punndu-mi eu urechea pe pntecul tu And at night, my ear pressed to your womb,
Am auzit cum mncarea ndrgostit I heard food in love
Lovete ncet ncet cu picioruele Kick gently gently with its little feet
Peter Sragher
(b. 1960)
Horia Grbea
(b. 1960)
pretext pretext
boschete egale n tot parcul all over the park identical thickets
multiplicat aceeai statuie replicate the same statue
poemul s-ar putea ncheia chiar aici the poem could end now
lng hangarul cu brci near the boat shed
ca i cum urmele vechi din zpad as if old footsteps in the snow
s-ar pierde deodat suddenly vanished
103
Mihail Glanu
(b. 1963)
Fiecare vers ne este dat ca o amnare a morii Every Line Is Given to Us in order to Postpone Death
Fiecare vers ne este dat ca o amnare a morii Every line is given to us in order to postpone death
Ca o mic recompens sucit pentru faptul c vom muri In small wry recompense for the fact that we shall die
Adic vom plti toate acestea And pay for all this
Toate aceste versuri extravagante For all these extravagant lines
Vom plti fiecare vers minunat din viaa noastr We shall pay for every wonderful line in our lives
Dup cum vom plti pentru fiecare femeie pe care am avut-o As we shall pay for each woman weve had
Pentru fiecare unghie a ei ct o moned For each of her nails growing in our flesh
Care ni s-a ncletat n carne Well pay one coin
i chiar unghia va fi moneda the nail iteslf will be that coin
dac unghiile ei sidefii pot rscumpra viaa in case her pearl nails can ransom life
uneori mi nchipui fiecare aluni mai nsemnat I sometimes imagine the more prominent moles
a corpului ei ca pe un ban cafeniu on her body each as a brown coin
ca pe un mic bnu cafeniu a little brown coin
cu care pltete toate pcatele mele. which she uses to pay for all my sins.
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Viaa mea se poart tot mai fr mnui cu mine My Life is Treating Me More and More Brutally
Viaa mea se poart tot mai fr mnui cu mine, My life is treating me more and more brutally
m-a bgat ntr-o dubi n care it has pushed me into a small van which
mi tot car pumni n botul nsngerat. keeps punching my bloodied nose.
M confrunt cu fotografii mai vechi It compares me to older photos
i mi zice: and says:
deci aa vrei s ajungi, idiotule, so this is where you want to get to, you idiot,
vrei s regresezi spre natere. Vrei s intri din nou n uteru you want to go back to your birth. You want back in your
m-tii mothers uterus
i s te nati din nou. so you can be born again.
Cine tie ce fiar o s ias, Who knows what animal will come out,
Ce pocitanie. Vrei s fii iari copil, What ugly creature. You want to be a child again,
Bai cmpii cu vedeniile tale. Youre crazy, youre seeing things.
Bun, i dup asta? Fine, and then what?
Crezi c aa te vei salva? Do you think it will save you?
Crezi c o s-i reueasc figura asta mereu? Do you think it will work every time?
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Robert erban
(b. 1970)
poemul matri. din ce n ce mai mult n the matrix poem. closer and closer to my life
propria mea via
viaa ntre mai multe echipe de filmare life among several film crews
ntre mai multe clipuri despre viitorul care sun ntotdeauna among several commercials about the future which always
bine sounds good
viaa ntre calupuri de publicitate i sondaje despre cum pot life among advertisements and polls on how europeans can
obine europenii reach
orgasmul cosmic i o moned unic tot mai profitabil cosmic orgasm and ever more profitable common currency
triesc din ce n ce mai mult n propria mea via I live my own life more and more
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ntr-o ar interioar inside an interior realm
n care ateptarea i singurtatea mi dau binee where I am greeted by waiting and loneliness
sper s ajung i eu pe Himalaya i s scriu: I hope to reach the Himalayas too and write
viaa n-are rost cu Coca-Cola! life is no use with Coca-Cola!
arunc cuvintele i biologiile lor n aer I blast away their words and biology
arunc telecomanda cu gndiri i impulsuri primare I blast away the remote control using primeval thoughts and
impulses
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singurtatea pune n micare solitude animates
turbulene turbulence
i tiri! and news!
singurtatea ateapt ntotdeauna un final fericit! solitude is always looking forward to a happy ending!
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Alexandru Muina
(1973-2013)
Filosofii Philosophies
Acesta e micul nostru secret. Toat lumea l tie dar This is our little secret. Everyone knows it but we are the
numai noi credem n el: manechinele au fost cndva oameni. only ones who believe it: mannequins were people once. Not
Nu chiar ca noi, ci din plastic i cauciuc. Se plimbau pe strad, exactly like us, just made of plastic and rubber. They walked
se duceau la coafor, salutau vecinii, i duceau nepoii la down the streets, went to the hairdressers, greeted neighbours,
grdini, aplaudau pe la mitinguri ca omul! Pn cnd took grandchildern to the Kindergarten, applauded at
Dactr Nicu le-a spus: Ce v tot pierdei vremea?! Nu vedei meetings... the usual! Till Doktor Nicu said: Why are you
c oamenii-oameni v exploateaz? De ce s nu stai linitii, wasting time?! Cant you see the human creatures are exploiting
fiecare n colul lui de magazin, i s v uitai n zare? Voi you? Why dont you just sit and read the paper in your chair, in
avei trupuri de filosof, contemplaia-i vocaia voastr. Unii the shop? You have philosophical bodies, your calling is
oameni v maimuresc. Degeaba, c nu le iese, v-o spun eu, contemplation. Some humans mimic you. Its all in vain, they can
dactr Nicu. never... trust me, trust Doktor Nicu.
Cele mai frumoase femei, cei mai frumoi brbai i The most beautiful women, the best looking men and
copii. Cu toii privesc fix, la ceva ce noi nu vom vedea children. They all stare at something well never see.
niciodat.
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Dudu Dudu
Dudu s-a nscut n tomberonul de lng blocul P4, Dudu was born near the dustbin of the P4 block of
ntr-o pung de plastic. Doarme n tomberon, mnnc n flats, in a plastic bag. He sleeps in the dustbin, eats in the
tomberon, se-mbrac din tomberon i aa mai departe. dustbin, gets dressed and so on in the dustbin.
E omul cel mai fericit, mereu cu zmbetul pe fa. He is the happiest man alive, always smiles. He greets
Salut pe toat lumea, d tot timpul din capul lui mare i zice everyone, keeps nodding his large head and says H-hi! H-
Sa-sa-lut! Ce-ce ma-mai fa-fa-fa-cei? Bine, i rspundem how are y-you? We reply, Fine, and you? M-me t-too, Im
noi, dar tu? Ce-ce-ce s fa-fac sc sc scriu po-poe-zii. wr-writing p-poems. No one has read them, and how could
Nimeni nu i le-a citit, ar fi i greu, ar trebui s intri, dup el, they, get into the dustbin with him, I mean, fumble among
n tomberon i s scotoceti printre borcane goale, oase de empty jars, fish bones, banana skins, pampers and tampons.
pete, coji de banan, pamperi i o.b.-uri. Dudu-i ine Dudus copybooks are at the bottom of the dustbin, no one
caietele chiar pe fundul tomberonului, nimeni nu poate s can reach them.
ajung la ele.
Dar Dudu e mulumit. Dac stai s-l asculi, i But Dudu is happy. If you stop to listen, he can tell
povestete cum o s ia el premiul Nobel, cum o s i se joace you he will be awarded the Nobel Prize, his plays will be
piesele la New-York i cum o s ajung el la Hollywood, staged in New York and he will become a Hollywood script
scenarist. writer.
Dureaz, ce-i drept, o jumtate de zi, dar dup aia It takes half a day, true, but after that life seems so
viaa-i pare mult mai frumoas. Dudu-i mai tare ca orice much brighter. Dudu is better than any psychoanalyst. And
psihanalist. i nici nu te cost nimic. it will cost you nothing.
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Porumbeii Pigeons
Dan Sociu
(b. 1978)
* *
ntr-o galaxie ndeprtat, cu milioane de ani n urm, in a distant galaxy, millions of years ago,
au fost zile de var cnd, spre sfritul lor, la ntoarcerea acas, on summer days when, at dusk, we returned home,
am fi putut s rmnem o familie tnr, cu sare de mare n we could have stayed a young family, with sea salt on our skin,
piele, our future secure and the atoms nuclei in thier rightful species.
viitorul intact i nucleele atomilor n specia lor iniial. a short rainfall would have melted above the flames,
o ploaie scurt s-ar fi topit deasupra flcrilor, rainbow over the motorway, not touching it.
arcuindu-se peste autostrad, fr s o ating. a young family protected in time from shame and desolation.
o familie tnr salvat la timp de ruine i dezolare. but those summers are over.
dar verile alea s-au terminat. to revisit would only be an angry detour,
acum n-ar fi dect un ocol furios, changing nothing, amongst the shades.
fr impact, printre umbre.
* *
orele sunt acum din ce n ce mai scurte the hours are becoming shorter, so much shorter
iar verile sunt mai scurte dect orele. and the summers becoming shorter than the hours.
n fiecare an, treci pe lng alt soare. nu-i simi we pass a different sun each year. we dont feel
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cldura, simi doar ngheul, cnd dispare. its heat, just cold, when it vanishes.
lumina vine i pleac, fr s aduc, light comes and goes, it brings nothing,
s duc sau s lase vreo urm. takes nothing, leaves no trace.
cineva din trecut de care erai legat prin the man in your past you were connected to by
magie tia s fac mult farmec n jur. magic, he could work wonders around him.
dup ce ai rupt legturile, nu mai tie since you lost him, he has no more
i farmecul i-a rmas ie, n trecut. magic, it is yours alone and in your past.
* *
pe undeva la un capt, lumea asta somewhere at some end, this world
care se zglie se ine bine ntr-o branul. i seringi, thats shaking is holding fast to a catheter, and syringes,
multe seringi s fixeze. pe un hol infectat, ntr-o sli murdar. many syringes pinning it down. in an infected hallway, a dirty
cnd s-a terminat pentru el, m-a uitat pe loc, little room.
dar faa lui continu s creasc peste a mea. cnd o s se when for him it was all over, he forgot me at once,
termine but his face keeps growing over mine, when that is
i cu ea, o s m uite pe loc. bacteriile o s-i mnnce trsturile, over, he will forget me at once. bacteria will eat his shape,
dar modelul o s-i continue programul. i micua gen letal but his pattern will go as planned. and the little lethal gene
o s alunece mai departe, intact, ca o brcu binecuvntat. will slip further, intact, like a blessed little boat.
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faa lui i a ei se-amestec pe mine ntruna, mi-e ru. alerg his and her face keep mingling in me, Im sick. I run
pe lng lac, m brutalizez s in hormonul fericirii la suprafa. by the lake, force myself to keep the hormone of happiness
afloat.
pe malul cellalt sunt noile blocuri, noile medii de cultur on the other side there are new blocks, new culture media
pentru creterea i dezolarea noilor familii tinere. acolo e for the growth and desolation of new young families. there we
trecutul find the most
cel mai frumos i primele veri, radioactivele. ziua se sfrete beautiful past and the first radioactive summers. day ends
pentru cei vii, luminile se aprind pe marginea lacului, for the living, lights come on at the lakeside,
insectele se strng n jurul becurilor insects swarm around the bulbs
ca n jurul unor ovule fierbini. as though they were round hot ovules.
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Domnica Drumea
(b. 1979)
Sunt zile n care ai vrea s-i faci loc Some days youd like to make a place for yourself
pe marginea ferestrei, s te plimbi linitit, on the window sill, walk at peace,
cu ochii nchii, ca pe un pod hipnotic, eyes closed, as though crossing a hypnotic bridge,
ca pe marginea unei tceri adnci. as though at the edge of a deep silence.
(De jos, te privete doar vidul, nlimea lui.) (Below, emptiness, its full height looking up at you.)
i camera te resoarbe n ea. And the room sucks you back in.
* Q.H.S. Quartier de Haute Scurit
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SDF SDF*
Stau pe brnci btrnii, marii copii ai oraului, They are lying down, the old, the big children of the city,
intr-n casele lor de carton de pe trotuare, they go into their cardboard boxes on sidewalks,
se foiesc acolo, they move about in there,
ca i cum i-ar face loc de pe-acum n pmnt. as if they were already preparing their place in the ground.
Se trsc pe cte-o gur de canal aburind They crawl down some steaming canal
(aa stabilesc ei mai bine legtura cu adncul), (this is how they keep in touch with the world below),
ca nite gini uriae, like huge hens,
care-i clocesc florile, mucegaiul. sitting on their flowers and mould.
Stau pe brnci marii, btrnii copii ai oraului They are lying down, those old, big children of the city,
i scuip-n whitmanul strzii ca-n sup. and they spit on whitman streets, as one might spit in soup.
Elena Vldreanu
(b. 1981)
Vnztoarea de la supermarket m privete chior de cte ori The supermarket girl scowls whenever I tell her I dont need
i spun s nu mi mai dea pung. a bag.
Nu vreau pung. ncerc s o spun ct mai blnd cu putin, I need no bag. I try to say it as gently as I can, trying not to
nu cumva s se simt jignit. O spun ncercnd s zmbesc offend her. I say it with a smile or pretending innocent, as
sau prefcndu-m c sta este cel mai firesc lucru din lume. though its the natural thing to say.
Nu vreau pung. Nu-mi iese. Vreau s fiu eco i nu-mi iese. I need no bag. It wont work. I want to do my ecological bit
Vnztoarea mi ndeas fileul de cod pane, salata energetic but it doesnt work. The girl crams my breaded cod fillets,
i cele 200 g de msline naturale ntr-o pung alb cu rou my energy salad and 200g of organic olives into a white and
n care a putea s-mi vr capul i s-i nnod toartele n jurul red bag
gtului I could put my head in it and tie its handles round my neck
n care cei 0,009 copii ai notri ar putea muri asfixiai Our 0.009 kids could suffocate to death in it
Care, n cel mai fericit caz, cltorete spre oceanul pacific At best, it travels to the pacific and joins the plastic island
unde se adaug insulei de plastic. Contribui zilnic cu cel puin there. I contribute one bag daily
o pung to the destruction of the planet.
la distrugerea planetei. Everyone knows that before the revolution there was no
Toat lumea tie c nainte de revoluie n romnia nu exista green concern in romania, no gays, no aids.
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ecologie, la fel cum nu existau homosexuali i nici sida. My life is full of plastic bags, tons of paper, PET, bottles
Viaa mea este plin de pungi de plastic, de tone de hrtie, ordered over 20 years.
peturi, sticle, ordonate de-a lungul a doar 20 de ani. What shall I do with them all? Where is my green corner?
Ce fac cu ele? Unde este colul meu verde? Ct la sut din What percentage of my life is clear and environmentally
viaa mea este limpede i bio? sound?
Visez la un mod de via ct mai ecologic. Nu fumez, nu merg I dream of a bio-friendly way of life. I dont smoke, I dont
cu liftul, mi-am luat biciclet. use the elevator, Ive bought a bike.
Cnd m spl pe dini nchid robinetul. When I brush my teeth I turn the tap off.
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fat fat
Claudiu Komartin
(b. 1983)
a vrea ca dimineaa asta s aib minile tale i wish morning had your hands
pentru c noaptea a fost adnc i rece since the night was deep and cold
adnc i rece, am putea spune deep and cold, we can say
a vrea ca dimineaa asta s aib spatele tu: i wish morning had your back:
talger acoperit de o piele trandafirie, platter wrapped in pink skin,
sub care pulseaz atrii prietenoi under which friendly stars throb
The green leaf cushions the same dry footprint, The green leaf cushions the same dry footprint,
or the childs boat luffs in the same dry chop, or the childs boat luffs in the same dry chop,
and we are where we were. We were! and we are where we were. We were!
(Robert Lowell, The Lesson) (Robert Lowell, The Lesson)
Cnd se-nsereaz, copiii nc mai rd, stropindu-se cu ap At dusk, children are still laughing, splashing in water
sub privirile pierdute n deprtare ale bunicilor. watched by grandparents who gaze into the distance.
Ceva se strecoar printre lucruri, ceva ar vrea s se joace Something steals in among objects, would like to play
cu minile tale, dar se las furat de ap, with your hands, but water, trees
copaci i frunze nvluite de lumina complice. and leaves, lost in friendly light, steal it away.
La doar civa pai, zidurile zdrelite par s le semene A few steps away, decrepit walls resemble
btrnilor rbdtori, patient old men,
inndu-i n fonetul blnd al dup-amiezei during a lesson of silence
lecia de linite. in the gentle rustle of the afternoon.
culorile rsfrnte n undele apei. Chipuri voioase the colours mirrored in the rippling water. Happy faces
plpie nc o clip la debarcader, ca lampioanele chinezeti glimmer shortly on the wharf, like Chinese lanterns
aprinse pentru aceast srbtoare a serenitii. lit for this festival of serenity.
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Adrian Alui Gheorghe (1958) Mihail Glanu (1963) Adrian Popescu (1947)
Linda Maria Baros (1981) Horia Grbea (1962) Dan Sociu (1978)
Daniel Bnulescu (1960) Liviu Georgescu (1958) Peter Sragher (1960)
Magda Crneci (1955) Bogdan Ghiu (1958) Liviu Ioan Stoiciu (1950)
Gabriel Chifu (1954) Ioana Ieronim (1947) Eugen Suciu (1952)
Dan Mircea Cipariu (1972) Claudiu Komartin (1983) Robert erban (1970)
Denisa Comnescu (1954) Angela Marinescu (1941) Lucian Vasilescu (1958)
Traian T. Coovei (1954-2014) Ion Mircea (1947) Lidia Vianu (1947)
Ioana Crciunescu (1950) Ion Murean (1955) Paul Vinicius (1953)
Nichita Danilov (1952) Alexandru Muina (1973-2013) Matei Viniec (1956)
Marian Drghici (1953) Mircea Petean (1952) Elena Vldreanu (1981)
Domnica Drumea (1979) Marta Petreu (1955) Andrei Zanca (1952)
Carmen Firan (1952) ioan es pop (1958) Ion Zubacu (1948)
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Lidia Vianu
Anne Stewart
Cristina Ioana Young practises Cristina Ioana Young este medic oftalmolog n
Ophthalmology in the South of France. Sudul Franei.
She is also interested in Pe lng profesia de medic, picteaz,
painting, photography and writing. fotografiaz i scrie proz i poezie.
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