Nigel Forde

The Law of Diminishing Departures

I make tea from the water that you boiled
Before you left; use your special cup.
I choose this book because you read it last.
The fire I’ve kept in for days: these flames
Are still the ones you saw. The milk jug? Stet,
Because you left it there. I fool myself
With charms, connections, that should make you real
But punch your absence into every act.

I keep things too long; candles I won’t burn,
Logs, ditto, saved for feasts or rainy days;
The chances are tomorrow could be worse.
And now it is. I’ve kept you long enough.
I study to enjoy the chilly space
That closes round my hand instead of yours,
And walk on grass to watch the rising moon
Because you might be watching too. Because.

Liviu Martinescu

Nigel Forde

Legea melancoliei invers proportionale cu distanta

Imi fac ceaiul din apa pe care tu ai fiert-o
Inainte de a pleca; beau din ceasca ta preferata.
Cartea pe care o citesc a fost ultima ta lectura.
Focul l-am mentinut zile-ntregi,incit ma uit la aceleasi flacari
Pe care le-au vazut ochii tai.Urciorul cu lapte? Neatins,
Vezi bine, caci tu l-ai atins ultima. Ma amagesc
Cu simboluri, trimiteri care ar trebui sa te-aduca-n camera
Dar de fapt absenta ta imi composteaza orice gest.

Prea mult tin lucrurile: nu ard luminarile,
Nici bustenii, pastrati pentru ospetze sau zile-nfrigurate;
Doar miine poate fi mai rau, nu?
Si uite ca si este. Te-am tinut destul aici.
Incet, invat cum sa ma bucur de frigul-valatuc
Infasurind mina mea, iara nu a ta,
Strabat tapsanul sa vad rasarind luna
Fiindca s-ar putea s-o vezi si tu. Fiindca.