Trebuiau sa poarte un nume

Eminescu n-a existat.

A existat numai o tara frumoasa
La o margine de mare
Unde valurile fac noduri albe,
Ca o barba nepieptanata de crai
Si niste ape ca niste copaci curgatori
În care luna îsi avea cuibar rotit.

Si, mai ales, au existat niste oameni simpli
Pe care-i chema: Mircea cel Batrân, Stefan cel Mare,
Sau mai simplu: ciobani si plugari,
Carora le placea sa spuna,
Seara, în jurul focului poezii ¬-
"Miorita" si "Luceafarul" si "Scrisoarea III".

Dar fiindca auzeau mereu
Latrând la stâna lor câinii,
Plecau sa se bata cu tatarii
Si cu avarii si cu hunii si cu lesii
Si cu turcii.

În timpul care le ramânea liber
Între doua primejdii,
Acesti oameni faceau din fluierele lor
Jgheaburi

Pentru lacrimile pietrelor înduiosate,
De curgeau doinele la vale
Pe toti muntii Moldovei si ai Munteniei
Si ai Tarii Bârsei si ai Tarii Vrancei
Si ai altor tari românesti.

Au mai existat si niste codri adânci
Si un tânar care vorbea cu ei,
Întrebându-i ce se tot leagana fara vânt?

Acest tânar cu ochi mari,
Cât istoria noastra,
Trecea batut de gânduri
Din cartea cirilica în cartea vietii,
Tot numarând plopii luminii, ai dreptatii, ai iubirii,
Care îi ieseau mereu fara sot.

Au mai existat si niste tei,
Si cei doi îndragostiti
Care stiau sa le troieneasca toata floarea
Într-un sarut.

Si niste pasari ori niste nouri
Care tot colindau pe deasupra lor
Ca lungi si miscatoare sesuri.
Si pentru ca toate acestea
Trebuiau sa poarte un nume,
Un singur nume,
Li s-a spus Eminescu.

They must’ve had a name

Eminescu did not exist.

Only a beautiful country existed
On a sea shore
Where the waves make white knots,
Like an ungroomed czar’s white beard
And some waters like some flowing trees
Where the moon had its rounded nest.

And, most of all, some simple men existed
Called: Mircea the Elder, Stefan the Great
Or, simpler: herders and plowers,
Who liked to tell,
In the evening, around the fire, poems -
“Ewe” and “Evening Star” and “Letter III”.

But because they’d constantly hear
At their sheepfold the dogs barking,
They’d leave to fight the Tatars
And the Avars and the Huns and the Slavs
And the Turks.

In the free time they had left
Between two dangers,
These men made of their flutes 
Troughs

For the tears of the touched stones,
So ballads poured down the slopes
Of all the Moldovan and Vallachian mountaines
And those of Barsa and Vrancea Counties
And those of other Romanian principalities.

And there have also been some deep woods
And a young man who spoke with them,
Wondering why do they swing windlessly?

This young man with eyes
As big as our history,
Passed by drowned in thoughts
From the Cyrillic book to the book of life, 
Tirelessly counting the poplars of light, of justice, of love, 
That always came out odd.

There were also some lime trees,
And the two lovers
Who knew how to snow down all their flower
In a kiss.

And some birds or some clouds
That trick or treated above them
As long and undulating fields.
And because all these 
Must have had a name, 
One single name,
They were called Eminescu.

Luceafarul

A fost odata ca-n povesti,
A fost ca niciodata.
Din rude mari împaratesti,
O prea frumoasa fata.

Si era una la parinti
Si mândra-n toate cele,
Cum e Fecioara între sfinti
Si luna între stele.

Din umbra falnicelor bolti
Ea pasul si-l îndreapta
Lânga fereastra, unde-n colt
Luceafarul asteapta.

Privea în zare cum pe mari
Rasare si straluce,
Pe miscatoarele carari
Corabii negre duce.

Îl vede azi, îl vede mâini,
Astfel dorinta-i gata;
El iar, privind de saptamâni,
Îi cade draga fata.

Cum ea pe coate-si razima
Visând ale ei tâmple,
De dorul lui si inima
Si sufletu-i se împle.

Si cât de viu s-aprinde el
În orisicare sara,
Spre umbra negrului castel
Când ea o sa-i apara.
...
Si pas cu pas pe urma ei
Aluneca-n odaie,
Tesând cu recile-i scântei
O mreaja de vapaie.

Si când în pat se-ntinde drept
Copila sa se culce,
I-atinge mâinile pe piept,
I-nchide geana dulce;

Si din oglinda luminis
Pe trupu-i se revarsa,
Pe ochii mari, batând închisi
Pe fata ei întoarsa.

Ea îl privea cu un surâs,
El tremura-n oglinda,
Caci o urma adânc în vis
De suflet sa se prinda.

Iar ea vorbind cu el în somn,
Oftând din greu suspina:
- O, dulce-al noptii mele domn,
De ce nu vii tu? Vina!

Cobori în jos, luceafar blând,
Alunecând pe-o raza,
Patrunde-n casa si în gând
Si viata-mi lumineaza!

El asculta tremurator,
Se aprindea mai tare
Si s-arunca fulgerator,
Se cufunda în mare;

Si apa unde-au fost cazut
În cercuri se roteste,
Si din adânc necunoscut
Un mândru tânar creste.

Usor el trece ca pe prag
Pe marginea ferestei
Si tine-n mâna un toiag
Încununat cu trestii.

Parea un tânar voievod
Cu par de aur moale,
Un vânat giulgi se-ncheie nod
Pe umerele goale.

Iar umbra fetei stravezii
E alba ca de ceara -
Un mort frumos cu ochii vii
Ce scânteie-n afara.

- Din sfera mea venii cu greu
Ca sa-ti urmez chemarea,
Iar cerul este tatal meu
Si muma-mea e marea.

Ca în camara ta sa vin,
Sa te privesc de-aproape,
Am coborât cu-al meu senin
Si m-am nascut din ape.

O, vin'! odorul meu nespus,
Si lumea ta o lasa;
Eu sunt luceafarul de sus,
Iar tu sa-mi fii mireasa.

Colo-n palate de margean
Te-oi duce veacuri multe,
Si toata lumea-n ocean
De tine o s-asculte.

- O, esti frumos, cum numa-n vis
Un înger se arata,
Dara pe calea ce-ai deschis
N-oi merge niciodata;

Strain la vorba si la port,
Lucesti fara de viata,
Caci eu sunt vie, tu esti mort,
Si ochiul tau ma-ngheata.
...
Trecu o zi, trecura trei
Si iarasi, noaptea, vine
Luceafarul deasupra ei
Cu razele-i senine.

Ea trebui de el în somn
Aminte sa-si aduca
Si dor de-al valurilor domn
De inim-o apuca:

- Cobori în jos, luceafar blând,
Alunecând pe-o raza,
Patrunde-n casa si în gând
Si viata-mi lumineaza!

Cum el din cer o auzi,
Se stinse cu durere,
Iar ceru-ncepe a roti
În locul unde piere;

În aer rumene vapai
Se-ntind pe lumea-ntreaga,
Si din a chaosului vai
Un mândru chip se-ncheaga;

Pe negre vitele-i de par
Coroana-i arde pare,
Venea plutind în adevar
Scaldat în foc de soare.

Din negru giulgi se desfasor
Marmoreele brate,
El vine trist si gânditor
Si palid e la fata;

Dar ochii mari si minunati
Lucesc adânc himeric,
Ca doua patimi fara sat
Si pline de-ntuneric.

- Din sfera mea venii cu greu
Ca sa te-ascult s-acuma,
Si soarele e tatal meu,
Iar noaptea-mi este muma;

O, vin', odorul meu nespus,
Si lumea ta o lasa;
Eu sunt luceafarul de sus,
Iar tu sa-mi fii mireasa.

O, vin', în parul tau balai
S-anin cununi de stele,
Pe-a mele ceruri sa rasai
Mai mândra decât ele.

- O, esti frumos cum numa-n vis
Un demon se arata,
Dara pe calea ce-ai deschis
N-oi merge niciodata!

Ma dor de crudul tau amor
A pieptului meu coarde,
Si ochii mari si grei ma dor,
Privirea ta ma arde.

- Dar cum ai vrea sa ma cobor?
Au nu-ntelegi tu oare,
Cum ca eu sunt nemuritor,
Si tu esti muritoare?

- Nu caut vorbe pe ales,
Nici stiu cum as începe -
Desi vorbesti pe înteles,
Eu nu te pot pricepe;

Dar daca vrei cu crezamânt
Sa te-ndragesc pe tine,
Tu te coboara pe pamânt,
Fii muritor ca mine.

- Tu-mi cei chiar nemurirea mea
În schimb pe-o sarutare,
Dar voi sa stii asemenea
Cât te iubesc de tare;

Da, ma voi naste din pacat,
Primind o alta lege;
Cu vecinicia sunt legat,
Ci voi sa ma dezlege.

Si se tot duce... S-a tot dus.
De dragu-unei copile,
S-a rupt din locul lui de sus,
Pierind mai multe zile.
...
În vremea asta Catalin,
Viclean copil de casa,
Ce umple cupele cu vin
Mesenilor la masa,

Un paj ce poarta pas cu pas
A-mparatesii rochii,
Baiat din flori si de pripas,
Dar îndraznet cu ochii,

Cu obrajei ca doi bujori
De rumeni, bata-i vina,
Se furiseaza pânditor
Privind la Catalina.

Dar ce frumoasa se facu
Si mândra, arz-o focul;
Ei, Catalin, acu-i acu
Ca sa-ti încerci norocul.

Si-n treacat o cuprinse lin
Într-un ungher degraba.
- Da' ce vrei, mari Catalin?
Ia du-t' de-ti vezi de treaba.

- Ce voi? As vrea sa nu mai stai
Pe gânduri totdeauna,
Sa râzi mai bine si sa-mi dai
O gura, numai una.

- Dar nici nu stiu macar ce-mi ceri,
Da-mi pace, fugi departe -
O, de luceafarul din cer
M-a prins un dor de moarte.

- Daca nu stii, ti-as arata
Din bob în bob amorul,
Ci numai nu te mânia,
Ci stai cu binisorul.

Cum vânatoru-ntinde-n crâng
La pasarele latul,
Când ti-oi întinde bratul stâng
Sa ma cuprinzi cu bratul;

Si ochii tai nemiscatori
Sub ochii mei ramâie...
De te înalt de subsuori
Te-nalta din calcâie;

Când fata mea se pleaca-n jos,
În sus ramâi cu fata,
Sa ne privim nesatios
Si dulce toata viata;

Si ca sa-ti fie pe deplin
Iubirea cunoscuta,
Când sarutându-te ma-nclin,
Tu iarasi ma saruta.

Ea-l asculta pe copilas
Uimita si distrasa,
Si rusinos si dragalas,
Mai nu vrea, mai se lasa,

Si-i zice-ncet: - Înca de mic
Te cunosteam pe tine,
Si guraliv si de nimic,
Te-ai potrivi cu mine...

Dar un luceafar, rasarit
Din linistea uitarii,
Da orizon nemarginit
Singuratatii marii;

Si tainic genele le plec,
Caci mi le umple plânsul
Când ale apei valuri trec
Calatorind spre dânsul;

Luceste c-un amor nespus,
Durerea sa-mi alunge,
Dar se înalta tot mai sus,
Ca sa nu-l pot ajunge.

Patrunde trist cu raze reci
Din lumea ce-l desparte...
În veci îl voi iubi si-n veci
Va ramânea departe...

De-aceea zilele îmi sunt
Pustii ca niste stepe,
Dar noptile-s de-un farmec sfânt
Ce nu-l mai pot pricepe.

- Tu esti copila, asta e...
Hai s-om fugi în lume,
Doar ni s-or pierde urmele
Si nu ne-or sti de nume,

Caci amândoi vom fi cuminti,
Vom fi voiosi si teferi,
Vei pierde dorul de parinti
Si visul de luceferi.
...
Porni luceafarul. Cresteau
În cer a lui aripe,
Si cai de mii de ani treceau
În tot atâtea clipe.

Un cer de stele dedesubt,
Deasupra-i cer de stele -
Parea un fulger ne'ntrerupt
Ratacitor prin ele.

Si din a chaosului vai,
Jur împrejur de sine,
Vedea, ca-n ziua cea dentâi,
Cum izvorau lumine;

Cum izvorând îl înconjor
Ca niste mari, de-a-notul...
El zboara, gând purtat de dor,
Pân' piere totul, totul;

Caci unde-ajunge nu-i hotar,
Nici ochi spre a cunoaste,
Si vremea-ncearca în zadar
Din goluri a se naste.

Nu e nimic si totusi e
O sete care-l soarbe,
E un adânc asemene
Uitarii celei oarbe.

- De greul negrei vecinicii,
Parinte, ma dezleaga
Si laudat pe veci sa fii
Pe-a lumii scara-ntreaga;

O, cere-mi, Doamne, orice pret
Dar da-mi o alta soarte,
Caci tu izvor esti de vieti
Si datator de moarte;

Reia-mi al nemuririi nimb
Si focul din privire,
Si pentru toate da-mi în schimb
O ora de iubire...

Din chaos, Doamne,-am aparut
Si m-as întoarce-n chaos...
Si din repaos m-am nascut,
Mi-e sete de repaos.

- Hyperion, ce din genuni
Rasai c-o-ntreaga lume,
Nu cere semne si minuni
Care n-au chip si nume;

Tu vrei un om sa te socoti
Cu ei sa te asameni?
Dar piara oamenii cu toti,
S-ar naste iarasi oameni.

Ei numai doar dureaza-n vânt
Deserte idealuri -
Când valuri afla un mormânt,
Rasar în urma valuri;

Ei doar au stele cu noroc
Si prigoniri de soarte,
Noi nu avem nici timp, nici loc
Si nu cunoastem moarte.

Din sânul vecinicului ieri
Traieste azi ce moare,
Un soare de s-ar stinge-n cer
S-aprinde iarasi soare;

Parând pe veci a rasari,
Din urma moartea-l paste,
Caci toti se nasc spre a muri
Si mor spre a se naste.

Iar tu, Hyperion, ramâi
Oriunde ai apune...
Cere-mi cuvântul meu dentâi -
Sa-ti dau întelepciune?

Vrei sa dau glas acelei guri,
Ca dup-a ei cântare
Sa se ia muntii cu paduri
Si insulele-n mare?

Vrei poate-n fapta sa arati
Dreptate si tarie?
Ti-as da pamântul în bucati
Sa-l faci împaratie.

Îti dau catarg lânga catarg,
Ostiri spre a strabate
Pamântu-n lung si marea-n larg,
Dar moartea nu se poate...

Si pentru cine vrei sa mori?
Întoarce-te, te-ndreapta
Spre-acel pamânt ratacitor
Si vezi ce te asteapta.
...
În locul lui menit din cer
Hyperion se-ntoarse
Si, ca si-n ziua cea de ieri,
Lumina si-o revarsa.

Caci este sara-n asfintit
Si noaptea o sa-nceapa;
Rasare luna linistit
Si tremurând din apa

Si umple cu-ale ei scântei
Cararile din crânguri.
Sub sirul lung de mândri tei
Sedeau doi tineri singuri:

- O, lasa-mi capul meu pe sân,
Iubito, sa se culce
Sub raza ochiului senin
Si negrait de dulce;

Cu farmecul luminii reci
Gândirile strabate-mi,
Revarsa liniste de veci
Pe noaptea mea de patimi.

Si de asupra mea ramâi
Durerea mea de-o curma,
Caci esti iubirea mea dentâi
Si visul meu din urma.

Hyperion vedea de sus
Uimirea-n a lor fata:
Abia un brat pe gât i-a pus
Si ea l-a prins în brate...

Miroase florile-argintii
Si cad, o dulce ploaie,
Pe crestetele-a doi copii
Cu plete lungi, balaie.

Ea, îmbatata de amor,
Ridica ochii. Vede
Luceafarul. Si-ncetisor
Dorintele-i încrede:

- Cobori în jos, luceafar blând,
Alunecând pe-o raza,
Patrunde-n codru si în gând,
Norocu-mi lumineaza!

El tremura ca alte dati
În codri si pe dealuri,
Calauzind singuratati
De miscatoare valuri;

Dar nu mai cade ca-n trecut
În mari din tot înaltul:
- Ce-ti pasa tie, chip de lut,
Dac-oi fi eu sau altul?

Traind în cercul vostru strâmt
Norocul va petrece,
Ci eu în lumea mea ma simt
Nemuritor si rece.

1883, aprilie

Evening Star

There was, as in the fairy tales,
As ne'er in the time's raid,
There was, of famous royal blood
A most beautiful maid.

She was her parents' only child,
Bright like the sun at noon,
Like the Virgin midst the saints
And among stars the moon.

From the deep shadow of the vaults
Her step now she directs
Toward a window; at its nook
Bright Evening-star expects.

She looks as in the distant seas
He rises, darts his rays
And leads the blackish, loaded ships
On the wet, moving, ways.

To look at him every night
Her soul her instincts spur;
And as he looks at her for weeks
He falls in love with her.

And as on her elbows she leans
Her temple and her whim
She feels in her heart and soul that
She falls in love with him.

And ev'ry night his stormy flames
More stormily renew
When in the shadow of the castle
She shows to his bright view.
* *
And to her room with her slow steps
He bears his steps and aims
Weaving out of his sparkles cold
A toil of shaking flames.

And when she throws upon her bed
Her tired limbs and reposes,
He glides his light along her hands
And her sweet eyelash closes.

And from the mirror on her shape
A beam has spread and burns,
On her big eyes that beat though closed
And on her face that turns.

Her smiles view him; the mirror shows
Him trembling in the nook
For he is plunging in her dream
So that their souls may hook.

She speaks with him in sleep and sighs
While her heart's swelled veins drum:
-"O sweet Lord of my fairy nights,
Why comest thou not? Come!

Descend to me, mild Evening-star
Thou canst glide on a beam,
Enter my dwelling and my mind
And over my life gleam!"

And he listens and trembles and
Still more for her love craves
And as quick as the lightning he
Plunges into the waves.

The water in that very spot
Moves rolling many rings
And out of the unknown, dark, depth
A superb young man springs.

As on a threshold o'er the sill
His hasty steps he leads,
Holds in his hand a staff with, at
Its top, a crown of reeds!

A young Voivode he seems to be
With soft and golden hair;
A blue shroud binds in a knot on
His naked shoulder fair.

The shade of his face is of wax
And thou canst see throughout -
A handsome dead man with live eyes
That throw their sparkles out.

-"From my sphere hardly I come to
Follow thy call and thee,
The heaven is my father and
My mother is the sea.

So that I could come to thy room
And look at thee from near
With my light reborn from waves my
Fate toward thee I steer.

O come, my treasure wonderful
And thy world leave aside;
For I am Evening-star up from
And thou wouldst be my bride.

In my palace of coral I'll
Take thee for evermore
And the entire world of the sea
Will kneel before thy door."

-"O thou art beautiful as but
In dreams an angel shows,
The way though thou hast oped for me
For me's for ever close.

Thy port and mien and speech are strange
Life thy gleams don't impart,
For I'm alive and thou art dead
And thy eyes chill my heart."
* *
Days have past since: but Evening-star
Comes up againd and stays
Just as before, spreading o'er her
His clear, translucent rays.

In sleep she would remember him
And, as before, her whole
Wish for the Master of the waves
Is clinching now her soul.

-"Descend to me, mild Evening-star
Thou canst glide on a beam,
Enter my dwelling and my mind
And over my life gleam!"

He hears: and from the dire despair
Of such an woeful weird
He dies, and the heavens revolve
Where he has disappeared.

Soon in the air flames ruddy spread,
The world in their grip hold;
A superb form the spasms of the
Chaotic valleys mold.

On his locks of black hair he bears
His crown a fierce fire frames;
He floats as he really comes
Swimming in the sun's flames.

His black shroud lets develop out
His arms marbly and hale;
He pensively and sadly brings
His face awfully pale.

But his big wonderful eyes' gleam,
Chimerically deep,
Shows two unsatiated spasms
That but into dark peep.

-"From my sphere hardly I come to
Follow thy voice, thy sight;
The bright sun is my father and
My mother is the night.

O come, my treasure wonderful
And thy world leave aside
For I am Evening-star from up
And thou wouldst be my bride.

O come, and upon thy blond hair
Crowns of stars I shall crowd,
And more that all of them, up there,
Thou wild look fair and proud."

-"O thou art beautiful as but
In dreams a demon shows,
The way though hast oped for me
For me's for ever close.

The depths of my breast ache from the
Desire of thy fierce love
My heavy, big eyes also ache
When into them thine shove".

-"But how wouldst thou that I come down?
Know this - for, do I lie? -:
I am immortal, while thou art
One of those that must die!"

-"I hate big words, nor do I know
How to begin my plea;
And although thy discourse is clear
I don't understand thee.

But if thou wantest my flamed love
And that would not be sham,
Come down on this temporal earth,
Be mortal as I am!"

-"I'd lose my immortality
For but one kiss of thine!
Well, I will show thee how much too
For thy fierce love I pine!

Yes, I shall be reborn from sin,
Receive another creed:
From that endlessness to which I
Am tied, I shall be freed!"

And out he went, he went, went out,
Loving a human fay,
He plucked himself off from the sky,
Went for many a day.
* *
Meanwhile, the house-boy, Catalin,
Sly, and who often jests
When he's filling with wine the cups
Of the banqueting guests;

A page that carries step by step
The trail of the Queen's gown,
A wandering bastard, but bold
Like no one in the town;

His little cheek - a peony
That under the sun stews;
Watchful, just like a thief, he sneaks
In Catalina's views.

-"How beautiful she grew" - thinks he -
"A flower just to pluck!
Now, Catalin, but now it is
Thy chance to try thy luck!"

And by the way, hurriedly, he
Corners that human fay:
-"What's with thee, Catalin? Let me
Alone and go thy way!"

-"No! I want thee to stay away
From thoughts that have no fun.
I want to see thee only laugh,
Give me a kiss, just one!"

-"I don't know what it is about
And, believe me, retire!
But for one Evening-star up from
I've kept my strong desire!"

-"If thou dost not know I could show
Thee all about love's balm!
Only, don't give way to thy ire
And listen and be calm.

So as the hunter throws the net
That many birds would harm,
When I'll stretch my left arm to thee,
Enlace me with thy arm.

Under my eyes keep thine and don't
Let them move on their wheels
And if I lift thee by the waist
Thou must lift on thy heels.

When I bend down my face, to hold
Thine up must be thy strife;
So, to each other we could throw
Sweet, eager, looks for life.

And so that thou have about love
A knowledge true and plain,
When I stoop to kiss thee, thou must
Kiss me too and again."

With much bewilderment her mind
The little boy's word fills,
And shyly and nicely now she
Wills not, and now she wills.

And slowly she tells him:- "Since thy
Childhood I've known thy wit,
And as thou art and glib and small
My temper thou wouldst fit.

But Evening-star sprung from the calm
Of the oblivion,
Though, gives horizon limitless
To the sea lone and dun.

And secretly, I close my eyes
For my eyelash tears dim
When the waves of the sea go on
Travelling toward him.

He shines with love unspeakable
So that my pains he'd leach,
But higher and higher soars, so
That his hand I'd ne'er reach.

Sadly thrusts from the worlds which from
My soul his cold ray bar...
I shall love him for ever and
For ever he'll rove far.

Like the unmeasured steppes my days
Are deaf and wild, therefore,
But my nights spread a holy charm
I understand no more!"

-"Thou art a child! Let's go! Through new
Lands our own fate let's frame!
Soon they shall have lost our trace and
Forgot even our name!

We shall be both wise, glad and whole
As my judgement infers
And thou wouldst not long for thy kin
Nor yearn for Evening-stars!"
* *
Then Evening-star went out. His wings
Grow, into heavens dash,
And on his way millenniums
Flee in less than a flash.

Below, a depth of stars; above,
The heaven stars begem, -
He seems an endless lightning that
Is wandering through them.

And from the Chaos' vales he sees
How in an immense ring
Round him, as in the World's first day,
Lights from their sources spring;

How, springing, they hem him like an
Ocean that swimming nears...
He flees carried by his desire
Until he disappears.

For that region is boundless and
Searching regards avoids
And Time strive vainly there to come
To life from the dark voids.

'Tis nought. 'Tis, though, thirst that sips him
And which he cannot shun,
'Tis depth unknown, comparable
To blind oblivion.

-"From that dark, choking, endlessness
Into which I am furled,
Father, undo me, and for e'er
Be praised in the whole world!

Ask anything for this new fate
For with mine I am through:
O hear my prayer, O my Lord, for
Thou gives life and death too.

Take back my endlessness, the fires
That my being devour
And in return give me a chance
To love but for an hour!

I've come from Chaos; I'd return
To that my former nest...
And as I have been brought to life
From rest, I crave for rest!"

-"Hyperion, that comest from
The depths with the world's swarm,
Do not ask signs and miracles
That have no name nor form.

Thou wantest to count among men,
Take their resemblance vain;
But would now the whole mankind die
Men will be born again.

But they are building on the wind
Ideals void and blind;
When human waves run into graves
New waves spring from behind.

Fate's persecutions, lucky stars,
They only are to own;
Here we know neither time nor space,
Death we have never known.

From the eternal yesterday
Drinks what to-day will drain
And if a sun dies on the sky
A sun quickens again.

Risen as for ever, death though
Follows them like a thorn
For all are born only to die
And die to be reborn.

But thou remainest wheresoe'er
Thou wouldst set down or flee.
Thou art of the prime form and an
Eternal prodigy.

Thou wilt now hear the wondrous voice
At whose bewitched singing
Mounts woody get skipping to skies
Into sea Island sinking!

Perhaps thou wilt more: show in deeds
Thy sense of justice, might,
Out of the earth's lumps make an empire
And settle on its height!

I can give thee millions of vessels
And hosts; thou, bear thy breath
O'er all the lands, o'er all the oceans:
I cannot give thee death.

For whom thou wantest then to die?
Just go and see what's worth
All that is waiting there for thee
On that wandering earth!"
* *
His first dominion on the sky
Hyperion restores
And like in his first day, his light
All o'er again he pours.

For it is evening and the night
Her duty never waives.
Now the moon rises quietly
And shaking from the waves,

And upon the paths of the groves
Her sparkles again drone...
Under the row of linden-trees
Two youths sit all alone.

-"O darling, let my blessed ear feel
How thy heart's pulses beat,
Under the ray of thy eyes clear
And unspeakably sweet.

With the charms of their cold light pierce
My thought's faery glades,
Pour an eternal quietness
On my passion's dark shades.

And there, above, remain to stop
Thy woe's violet stream,
For thou art my first source of love
And also my last dream!"

Hyperion beholds how love
Their eyes equally charms:
Scarcely his arm touches her neck,
She takes him in her arms.

The silvery blooms spread their smells
And their soft cascade strokes
The tops of the heads of both youths
With long and golden locks.

And all bewitched by love, she lifts
Her eyes toward the fires
Of the witnessing Evening-star
And trusts him her desires:

-"Descend to me, mild Evening-star
Thou canst glide on a beam,
Enter my forest and my mind
And o'er my good luck gleam!"

As he did it once, into woods,
On hills, his rays he urges,
Guiding throughout so many wilds
The gleaming, moving, surges.

But he falls not as he did once
From his height into swells:
-"What matters thee, clod of dust, if
'Tis me or some one else?

You live in your sphere's narrowness
And luck rules over you -
But in my steady world I feel
Eternal, cold and true!"

Rugaciunea unui dac

Pe când nu era moarte, nimic nemuritor,
Nici sâmburul luminii de viata datator,
Nu era azi, nici mâine, nici ieri, nici totdeuna,
Caci unul erau toate si totul era una;
Pe când pamântul, cerul, vazduhul, lumea toata
Erau din rândul celor ce n-au fost niciodata,
Pe-atunci erai Tu singur, încât ma-ntreb în sine-mi:
Au cine-i zeul carui plecam a noastre inemi?

El singur zeu statut-au nainte de-a fi zeii
Si din noian de ape puteri au dat scânteii,
El zeilor da suflet si lumii fericire,
El este-al omenimei izvor de mântuire:
Sus inimile voastre! Cântare aduceti-i,
El este moartea mortii si învierea vietii!

Si el îmi dete ochii sa vad lumina zilei,
Si inima-mi umplut-au cu farmecele milei,
În vuietul de vânturi auzit-am al lui mers
Si-n glas purtat de cântec simtii duiosu-i viers,
Si tot pe lânga-acestea cersesc înc-un adaos:
Sa-ngaduie intrarea-mi în vecinicul repaos!

Sa blesteme pe-oricine de mine-o avea mila,
Sa binecuvânteze pe cel ce ma împila,
S-asculte orice gura, ce-ar vrea ca sa ma râda,
Puteri sa puie-n bratul ce-ar sta sa ma ucida,
S-acela între oameni devina cel întâi
Ce mi-a rapi chiar piatra ce-oi pune-o capatâi.

Gonit de toata lumea prin anii mei sa trec,
Pân' ce-oi simti ca ochiu-mi de lacrime e sec,
Ca-n orice om din lume un dusman mi se naste,
C-ajung pe mine însumi a nu ma mai cunoaste,
Ca chinul si durerea simtirea-mi a-mpietrit-o,
Ca pot sa-mi blestem mama, pe care am iubit-o -
Când ura cea mai cruda mi s-a parea amor...
Poate-oi uita durerea-mi si voi putea sa mor.

Strain si far' de lege de voi muri - atunce
Nevrednicu-mi cadavru în ulita l-arunce,
S-aceluia, Parinte, sa-i dai coroana scumpa,
Ce-o sa asmute câinii, ca inima-mi s-o rumpa,
Iar celui ce cu pietre ma va izbi în fata,
Îndura-te, stapâne, si da-i pe veci viata!

Astfel numai, Parinte, eu pot sa-ti multumesc
Ca tu mi-ai dat în lume norocul sa traiesc.
Sa cer a tale daruri, genunchi si frunte nu plec,
Spre ura si blestemuri as vrea sa te înduplec,
Sa simt ca de suflarea-ti suflarea mea se curma
Si-n stingerea eterna dispar fara de urma!

A Dacian's Prayer

When death did not exist, nor yet eternity,
Before the seed of life had first set living free,
When yesterday was nothing, and time had not begun,
And one included all things, and all was less than one,
When sun and moon and sky, the stars, the spinning earth
Were still part of the things that had not come to birth,
And You quite lonely stood... I ask myself with awe,
Who is this mighty God we bow ourselves before.

Ere yet the Gods existed already He was God
And out of endless water with fire the lightning shed;
He gave the Gods their reson, and joy to earth did bring,
He brought to man forgiveness, and set salvation's spring
Lift up your hearts in worship, a song of praise enfreeing,
He is the death of dying, the primal birth of being.

To him I owe my eyes that I can see the dawn,
To him I owe my heart wherein is pity born;
Whene'er I hear the tempest, I hear him pass along
Midst multitude of voices raised in a holy song;
And yet of his great mercy I beg still one behest:
That I at last be taken to his eternal rest.

Be curses on the fellow who would my praise acclaim,
But blessings upon him who does my soul defame;
Believe no matter whom who slanders my renown,
Give power to the arm that lifts to strike me down;
Let him upon the earth above all others loom
Who steals away the stone that lies upon my tomb.

Hunted by humanity, let me my whole life fly
Until I feel from weeping my very eyes are dry;
Let everyone detest me no matter where I go,
Until from persecution myself I do not know;
Let misery and horror my heart transform to stone,
That I may hate my mother, in whose love I have grown;
Till hating and deceiving for me with love will vie,
And I forget my suffering, and learn at last to die.

Dishonoured let me perish, an outcast among men;
My body less than worthy to block the gutter then,
And may, o God of mercy, a crown of diamonds wear
The one who gives my heart the hungry dogs to tear,
While for the one who in my face does callous fling a clod
In your eternal kingdom reserve a place, o God.

Thus only, gracious Father, can I requitance give
That you from your great bounty vouched me the joy to live;
To gain eternal blessings my head I do not bow,
But rather ask that you in hating compassion show.
Till comes at last the evening, your breath will mine efface,
And into endless nothing I go, and leave no trace.

(1879, Translated by Corneliu M. Popescu)

Atât de frageda...

Atât de frageda, te-asameni
Cu floarea alba de cires,
Si ca un înger dintre oameni
În calea vietii mele iesi.

Abia atingi covorul moale,
Matasa suna sub picior,
Si de la crestet pân-în poale
Plutesti ca visul de usor.

Din încretirea lungii rochii
Rasai ca marmura în loc -
S-atârna sufletu-mi de ochii
Cei plini de lacrimi si noroc.

O, vis ferice de iubire,
Mireasa blânda din povesti,
Nu mai zâmbi! A ta zâmbire
Mi-arata cât de dulce esti,

Cât poti cu-a farmecului noapte
Sa-ntuneci ochii mei pe veci,
Cu-a gurii tale calde soapte,
Cu-mbratisari de brate reci.

Deodata trece-o cugetare,
Un val pe ochii tai fierbinti:
E-ntunecoasa renuntare,
E umbra dulcilor dorinti.

Te duci, s-am înteles prea bine
Sa nu ma tin de pasul tau,
Pierduta vecinic pentru mine,
Mireasa sufletului meu!

Ca te-am zarit e a mea vina
Si vecinic n-o sa mi-o mai iert,
Spasi-voi visul de lumina
Tinzându-mi dreapta în desert.

S-o sa-mi rasai ca o icoana
A pururi verginei Marii,
Pe fruntea ta purtând coroana -
Unde te duci? Când o sa vii?

So Fresh Thou Art...

So like the sweet, white cherry blossom,
So tender and so fresh thou art,
And on my life's way like an angel
Appearing thou dost light impart.

Thou scarcely touchest the soft carpet,
The silk on thee doth rustling stream,
From top to toe so light and lofty,
Thou floatest like an airy dream.

From draping folds like purest marble
Thine image unto me appears,
My whole soul on thine eyes is hanging,
Those eyes so full of joy and tears.

O happy dream of love, so happy,
Thou bride of fairy tales, so mild,
No, do not smile! Thy smille doth show me
How sweet thou art, thou gentle child.

My poor eyes thou canst close for ever
With deepest night's eternal charms,
With thy sweet lips' sweet fondling, whispers,
Embracing me with thy cool arms.

A veiling thought at once now passes
Thy glowing eyes thus covering:
It is the dark renunciation,
The sweetest yearning's shadowing.

Thou go'st away and, well I know it,
To follow thee must I no more,
Thou art for me now lost for ever,
My soul's dear bride, whom I adore.

My only guilt was that I saw thee,
Which I to pardon have no might,
Mine arm I'll stretch for ever vainly
To expiate my dream of light.

Like holy Virgin's purest image
In my fond eyes thou will rise now,
The brightest crown on forehead bearing,
Where dost thou go? When comest thou?

(1879, Translated by P. Grimm)

Sara pe deal

Sara pe deal buciumul suna cu jale,
Turmele-l urc, stele le scapara-n cale,
Apele plâng, clar izvorând în fântâne;
Sub un salcâm, draga, m-astepti tu pe mine.

Luna pe cer trece-asa sfânta si clara,
Ochii tai mari cauta-n frunza cea rara,
Stelele nasc umezi pe bolta senina,
Pieptul de dor, fruntea de gânduri ti-e plina.

Nourii curg, raze-a lor siruri despica,
Stresine vechi casele-n luna ridica,
Scârtâie-n vânt cumpana de la fântâna,
Valea-i în fum, fluiere murmura-n stâna.

Si osteniti oameni cu coasa-n spinare
Vin de la câmp; toaca rasuna mai tare,
Clopotul vechi umple cu glasul lui sara,
Sufletul meu arde-n iubire ca para.

Ah! în curând satul în vale-amuteste;
Ah! în curând pasu-mi spre tine grabeste:
Lânga salcâm sta-vom noi noaptea întreaga,
Ore întregi spune-ti-voi cât îmi esti draga.

Ne-om razima capetele-unul de altul
Si surâzând vom adormi sub înaltul,
Vechiul salcâm. - Astfel de noapte bogata,
Cine pe ea n-ar da viata lui toata?

Eve On The Hill

Dreary the horn sounds in the eve on the hill,
Sheepflocks return, stars on their way twinkle still,
Watersprings weep murmuring clear, and I see
Under a tree, love, thou art waiting for me.

Holy and pure passes the moon on the sky,
Moist seem the stars born from the vault clear and high,
Longing thine eyes look from afar to divine,
Heaving thy breast, pensive thy head doth recline.

Tired with their toil, peasants come back from the field,
From the old church, labourer's comfort and shield,
Voices of bells thrill the whole sky high above;
Struck is my heart, trembling and burning with love.

Ah! very soon quietness steals over all,
Ah! very soon hasten shall I to thy call,
Under the tree, there I shall sit the whole night,
Telling thee, love, thou art my only delight.

Cheek press'd to cheek, there in sweet ecstasy we,
Falling asleep under the old locust-tree,
Smiling in dream, seem in a heaven to live,
For such a night who his whole life would not give?

(1885, Translated by P. Grimm)