Stella Davis

After burying the monster

After burying the monster
we cannot return home.
We follow the geese skeining south
to the quiet docks, where lie in hulk
our ships once seaworthy.

They let loose a flickering hope.
Who is to say we shan't set sail again, rise
to the occasion as the tide turns? There
are coasts where we never landed: those
secretive shores.

A long time since, we turned on our neighbours,
rending their comfort by way of a sacrifice. "Give
of your best" was the rule.
We obeyed it, didn't we?
All those young men.

Now when a deceit of lapwings ravages the
green corn, it scarcely seems to matter.
Surprising, how long we are able
to eke a living; how many years
since we ate red meat?

We went so far, in the steps of the monster.
But the dint wears away, the road unravels,
the flag we clung to lies shredded,
and we find we cannot bear
to return home.

Silvia Nicolae

Stella Davis

Dupa ingroparea monstrului

Dupa ingroparea monstrului
nu ne putem intoarce acasa.
Urmam gastele ce indreapta spre sud
spre docurile linistite unde vapoarele noastre
odata semete stau ruinate.

Ei cruta totusi o slaba speranta.
Cine poate spune ca nu vom mai naviga din nou,
ca nu vom fi la inaltime cand vine refluxul? Acolo
sunt coastele unde n-am acostat niciodata: acele
tarmuri tainice.

E mult timp de-atunci, de cand am devenit ostili
Fata de vecini, tulburandu-le tihna prin sacrificul nostru.
"Dati tot ce aveti mai bun" era regula.
Am ascultat cu totii, nu-i asa?
Toti acei tineri.

Acum cand nagatii inselatori distrug
porumbul verde, nu prea pare sa mai conteze.
Surprinzator cat timp am reusit sa traim
de pe-o zi pe alta; cati ani au trecut de cand
mancam carne rosie?

Am ajuns atat de departe pe urmele monstrului.
Dar puterea ni se scurge usor, drumul se desluseste,
drapelul de care ne-am agatat zace acum zdrentuit,
si ne dam seama ca nu putem suporta
sa ne intoarcem acasa.