Latest quotes, page 6
Song of a man [Cântecul unui om]
What I was once I am no more...
But I regret what I am now
And that I've failed, I disavow,
To be the bard I was before...
And when I hated I was hailed
And when I loved I received strife...
But I've been singing all my life
The One who on the cross was nailed...
My former hopes are but a dream,
I've gathered what I wished not for...
But all those days I can ignore –
Like some unwritten tale they seem...
If now I have a holy core,
For sure that God had this in mind –
To let me change...then try to find
The man I was, but am no more...
poem by Ion Minulescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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The 11th commandment [A XI-a poruncă]
Hear closely, be watchful and shush!...
Hear closely, and learn how to speak,
Behold the construction technique.
And shush, grasp the things, do not rush...
Hear closely, be watchful and shush!
When sin clings to you like a vine,
And Mermaid's sweet song charms your soul
Shut up and remain in control
And pray to the relics in shrine –
When sin clings to you like a vine!...
When feel that your foe makes you sigh,
And faith slowly withers away,
Be patient, you'll triumph one day,
Don't let your mind's candle to die –
When feel that your foe makes you sigh!
When pain strikes your arms more and more,
Don't think that you start to get old,
[...] Read more
poem by Ion Minulescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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Fir tree [Bradul]
When sun in May burns in the sky
When winter wind is mean,
The stately fir, on mountains high,
Remains forever green.
Its root is strong and goes inside
The rock with perfect skill,
And from above, so dignified,
It keeps on drilling still!
With that huge granite, dense and strong,
It joined its slender form,
And both are shaken all along
By the relentless storm.
And wood and rock are just one frame,
The green spot charms the eyes;
Inhales the frost, endures the flame
And thunderbolts defies!
[...] Read more
poem by Bogdan Petriceicu Haşdeu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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Fading images [Icoane şterse]
I'm at the window in a pensive mood,
The setting sun intently I behold,
Above it there's a cloud with gray imbued
Whose rims are stitched with rubies and with gold.
The blue of heaven there is in decline;
Queer shapes the cloud in silence does produce...
I'd fix them in the rhythm of a line!
But they're short-lived... Now, turn into a deuce,
Wrapped up in vestments made of silver ore,
Which stands and holds in hand a banner fair.
Now, it's a bear, but, lo, has changed once more,,,
Looks like a priest with tangled burning hair.
I see how lifts his arms above the chest,
But those malicious flames are all around,
A cloud of dust is rising in the west
And gloomy shadows stretch upon the ground.
[...] Read more
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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The longing [Dorul]
The longing burns inside my core
I wail and find no rest,
Ah! without wings I cannot soar
To reach your mellow breast!
I feel I'm dying here below
I'm helpless and I fear,
I never learn, I do not know,
A thing about you, dear.
At night in silence, I confess,
In pain I touch my scars,
And beg for comfort and caress
From moon and from the stars.
But they keep silent and have flown
Across the clear blue sky;
I sob for feeling all alone,
I'm empty and I cry.
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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With your hand [Cu-a ta mână]
Sweet angel, with your hand divine,
When I was sad, lost in the mob,
You wiped those dreary eyes of mine
And you extinguished my deep sob.
May you be always safe and great,
With you around I had no fear
And I forgot my bitter fate
And that I was a stranger here.
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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Things of the past [Din trecut]
Now, when has gone our love sincere
Come to the graveyard with me, dear,
Where are entombed under the grass,
And by oblivion concealed
So many frozen dreams, alas!
Time and aloofness are their shield.
Get rid of your regrets and shame:
No one can put on us the blame.
So many crosses are around!...
Our first kiss lies here in the ground:
The moon was watching from on high
How we were crossing love's frontiers
And it was shining in the sky,
While happiness made us shed tears,
Which slowly trickled on our face;
We sipped them all in hot embrace.
Elsewhere a longing – dead and dried:
Two kids were eager, side by side,
[...] Read more
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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How much we loved each other and we thought [Cât ne iubeam, şi cum credeam odată]
How much we loved each other and we thought
That our sincere affection would endure,
That what we had in mind were notions pure
About that world perpetual we sought!
Time and again, my wish to hold you tight
Against my chest, more ardent was and great,
And on my heart it put a heavy weight:
The day I die... and tears obscured your sight...
Today, it's just a tale, not even sore,
Because all things came quickly to an end;
There's not a trace of what it was before,
So many vain illusions, my dear friend!
A sign, a kerchief waving at the door.
And then we in forgetfulness descend.
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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When I have nothing to write [Când n-am ce scrie]
Why are you surprised by me?
I'm a writer, you can see,
And when people ask me why,
To kill boredom, I reply.
Novels, chronicles, critique,
For these all I have technique:
Give me issues and then pay,
I make stories right away.
And for sure, it's no big deal...
Some ideas I can steal
Or some pattern improvise
And I'm like Apollo's guys.
Then the world is old of days,
You can write about its ways!
Style and grammar? Do not freak,
They're for people poor and weak.
[...] Read more
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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My shattered dreams [A mele visuri]
My shattered dreams, which mind conceives,
Fill up my heart with woe again,
I see them all in the pale leaves
And in the sorrow of the glen.
In snow they will forever sleep,
Covered by time with its thick shawl,
My shattered dreams, which make me weep
And fill my heart with bitter gall!
When happy days, O, lovely trees,
Will give you back what you have lost,
The leaves that from your boughs were tossed,
In night's deep darkness still will freeze
My shattered dreams, which mind conceives!
poem by Alexandru Vlahuţă, translated by Octavian Cocoş
Submitted by anonym
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