two poets I like

Nichita Stanescu

Sfarsit de anotimp

Eram atât de atent,
încât se stingea-n cupole amiaza,
iar sunetele înghetau în jurul meu,
prefacându-se-n stâlpi rasuciti.

Eram atât de atent,
încât plutirea ondulata-a mirosurilor
se prabusea-n întuneric
si parca niciodata n-as fi-ncercat
frigul.

Deodatam-am trezit atât de departe
si de strain
ratacind înapoia chipului meu,
ca si cum mi-as fi învelit simturile
cu relieful fara de noima al lunii.

Eram atât de atent,
încât
nu te-am recunoscut, si poate
ca vii mereu,
în fiecare ora, în fiece secunda,
si treci prin asteptarea mea de-atunci
ca prin fantoma unui arc de triumf.


Season's end

I was so very aware
that the afternoon was dying in the domes,
and all around me sounds froze,turned to winding pillars.

I was so very aware
that the undulant drift of scents
was collapsing into darkness,
and it seemed I had never tasted
the cold.

Suddenly
I awoke so far away
and strange,
wandering behind my face
as though I had hidden my feelings
in the sensless relief of the moon.

I was so very aware
that
I did not recognize you, and perhaps
you come, always,
every hour, every second,
moving through my vigil - then -
as through the spectre of a triumphal arch.

From the book "Bas-Relief with Heroes"
English translation by Thomas Carlson and Vasile Poenaru.


Marin Sorescu

Sah

Eu mut o zi alba,
El muta o zi neagra.
Eu inaintez un vis,
El mi-l ia la razboi.
El imi ataca plamanii,
Eu ma gandesc un an la spital,
Fac o combinatie stralucita
Si-i castig o zi neagra.
El muta o nenorocire
Si ma ameninta cu cancerul
(Care merge deocamdata in forma de cruce)
Dar eu ii pun in fata o carte
Si-l silesc sa se retraga.
Ii mai castig cateva piese,
Dar,uite,jumatate din viata mea
E scoasa pe margine.
- O sa-ti dau sah si-ti pierzi optimismul,
Imi spune el.
- Nu-i nimic, glumesc eu,
Fac rocada sentimentelor.
In spatele meu sotia, copiii,
Soarele, luna si ceilalti chibiti
Tremura pentru orice miscare a mea.

Eu imi aprind o tigara
Si continui partida.

Chess

I move a white day,
He moves a black day.
I advance with a dream,
He takes it to war.
He attacks my lungs,
I think for about a year in hospital.
I make a brilliant combination
And win a black day.
He moves a disaster
And threatens me with cancer
(Which moves for the moment in the shape of a cross)
But I put a book before him
He’s obliged to retreat.
I win a few more pieces,
But, look, half my life
Is taken.
-If I give you check, you lose your optimism,
He tells me.
-It doesn’t matter, I joke,
I’ll do the castling of feelings.
Behind me my wife, children,
The sun, the moon and other onlookers
Tremble for every move I make.

I light a cigarette
And continue the game.

Translated by Michael Hamburger