Carol Rumens

And If It Was

If it was only for you
all along, all the time, all the way,
and nothing was left of our brightest exchange
of brain-light and blood-sugar; if
it turned out to be just for the flirt and the flak, the great luck
when it worked, when we came, and I caught
the whiff of your sweat, like human sweat,
and your glow, saw your feathers and hair
flare like an Inca head-dress, though
no more than a match-flame, over and out, not catching
anyone’s fire but mine, any time but now,
would you forgive me, words?

Liviu Martinescu

Carol Rumens

Si dac-ar fi

Si dac-ar fi vorba de tine
tot timpul, absolut absolut tot timpul
si n-ar mai ramine nimic din fabulosul schimb
de scintei mentale si lamura a singelui; daca
ar fi totul doar de-amoru’ artei, de kiki, si marele noroc
cand a venit, si noua ne-a venit, simultan, si-am
amusinat seva din tine, tisnind ca dintr-o femeie
straluceai si acopereai tot cerul cu penele
si parul tau purpura, ca al unui imparat incas, desi
scurt, cit tine un chibrit,uite-l, nu-i, evidentiind
doar focul meu, in orice timp afar’ de acesta,
m-ai ierta oare, cuvintule?
 

Gwynedd
for Lidia Vianu

We went down to the strait;
We pulled up a grubby edge of the Atlantic
And chilled there in the mud-hole of winter.
We climbed a cloud and left our heads behind.
We took photos of a rainbow: it came out white.
We planted a dill forest.
We listened for the sound of churches singing in Welsh.
In the field at night I tried to pick up fallen washing
But only scrabbled with the hems of moon-shadows.

Gwynedd
Lidiei Vianu

Am coborit pina la strimtoare;
Am insfacat marginea puturoasa a Atlanticului
Si-ntr-o gaura a iernii ne-am racorit
Am urcat pe un nor si ne-am lasat capetele in urma.
Am fotografiat un curcubeu -- a iesit alb.
Am plantat o padure de marar.
Am vrut sa auzim bisericile cintind in limba velsa.
Pe cimp noaptea am incercat sa culeg rufe picate
Si miinile mi-au ostenit in umbrele tivurilor lunii.