Lyubomir Nikolov
Midnight Parables
The Mercedes ploughs through the Pittsburgh darkness.
A half-moon is in the sky.
‘He sent the birds to the moon,
but they returned
because they had nests and relatives
here, on earth.’
Fred lights a cigarette.
He coughs.
‘A tree complained to Saint Francis:
- I have forgotten what I am.
- Look at the others – replied the Saint –
- Each keeps just a single leaf
So, come spring, it will remember.’
Fred lowers the windows.
He points to the trees by the road.
We peer into the dark.
Empty nests.
Naked branches.
A half-moon is in the sky.
‘He sent the birds to the moon,
but they returned
because they had nests and relatives
here, on earth.’
Fred lights a cigarette.
He coughs.
‘A tree complained to Saint Francis:
- I have forgotten what I am.
- Look at the others – replied the Saint –
- Each keeps just a single leaf
So, come spring, it will remember.’
Fred lowers the windows.
He points to the trees by the road.
We peer into the dark.
Empty nests.
Naked branches.
Translated by Miroslav Nikolov
Page(s) 39
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