Sleep tight, mummy’s baby! by Radu Gyr
Sleep tight, Mummy’s baby… no more
Nursery rhymes are left on this Earth…
The stories I’m not telling you – all
Are dead under the cry of the cannon.
Under tanks – hundred of years ago –
Sun and Moon – in the porch – also died
No whisper is left to caress you
And there’s no more milk left in my teats.
Because in this world now there are only
Wailing winds left – with their blow
And the hunger too – of your baby’s cot,
And Mummy’s crying – the deepest curse!
And the screech of the maddened chains
Hanging on Daddy’s ankles – in prison.
Sleep tight, Mummy’s baby, no more
Nursery rhymes are left on this Earth…
Flowers by Radu Gyr
Flowers… some crop up just to kiss you,
Prattling little pieces of gossip.
Others tiny, silly and mumbling
Have the deer’s deep, questioning eye.
Some of them sing… tell funny stories
Gracious, chatty tavern hostesses!
Flowers seemingly pinching the lute
Confess, in wanly crossing themselves…
Flowers shinning their nude bladed shine,
Flowers angel-cheek-long-eyelash-ed,
Flowers draped in breastplates and armors…
Flowers collapsed by tears and defeated,
Flowers scolding, defiant in your way,
Flowers forgiving when you bleed them…
Another one died... by Radu Gyr
Another one’s died…
Hunger on his face,
Mist in the eyes,
Hands of tobacco…
Another one’s died…
Of the cursed lot
Slowly fading out
All – one by one…
Three, six, eight, ten…
The haggard has died
So much the better
He’s free now to go…
All dreams of bile,
Of women’s bodies,
And of hominy will
Burn him no longer.
Ah… my good old God…
Caresses him dearly!
Dear comrades in death
I present you one more!
Oh, yes… let him leave!
Shut up – all of you!
He leaves behind a broth
And the cold bread loaf.
I have never before been!