Maria Laïná
From: Rose-Coloured Fear (1992)
Witches
Beware of the dark woman
she's galloping before you.
[Sottovento]
And the night cards are out
with a bit of her breast
a mad bit.
Again the wind sweeps her
or rather she slithers
her heels do not rise.
[Tiny Passage]
Night in the centre of the island
my skeleton eaten into by her hand
while the bees and ants are led
by the sun.
She's coming home any moment
passes the wild berries to her left hand
gently bends over towards his voice quietly sees him,
her red eyes glowing.
The most shameless the most beautiful
under the black vault and discerning stars
will again imitate the beauty and strength of a sword.
[The Pyre]
Intoxication that possesses women
and which the sickly phenomena loved with passion
desired her terribly so she tore at her,
both with legs apart.
It was her blood and with it she went
And whom would she not enchant!
Full lips half open
buzzing lit eyes
face on the soil
so no one else might enter.
Let her die then let her die
and Eros undo her flesh from the shoulders
and at last I might lie
on her white bones.
[Aunt's Story]
Yes, I guess I am.
Yes, I am now.
The swishing of my skirt
the straw hat
against the door the bare head.
There are then so many things
things that give me the pleasure of space
where there was once time
for them I let my hair down and let into the night
shy things, that turn red
leaving sadness and turning to glory.
Yes, smiled Theodora;
my hands are dry
yet I touch it all.
as if I weren't
as if I weren't me any longer remember me
when in the delicate water of the moon
the garden pagoda will slide
beloved Li Po
beloved male deer —
forget the rest;
if you wish again to hold me.
[The Poet's Enemy]
I descend slowly
laugh suddenly, without wanting to
I always laugh
I enter left, in the empty kitchen
I open the four-leaf window to the east
I sit at the table with apples scattered
I forget myself alone.
Alone I enjoy the hours of dawn.
On dry land
I spread my garden
till my mouth is filled with laughter.
Translated by Maria Consta
Page(s) 65-67
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