Poems of Shyqri Galica (Kosovo) in English

IMMORTALITY

(To Jusuf Gërvalla)

(A PROBABLE PREY OF STORMS)

Tonight

I wanted

To begin my diary

I thought –

It may gather dust

And

I feared –

Storms may eat it up.

I wrote it.

I read it.

I tore it.

I said –

We are in winter

And

Storms may eat it up…

(WHEN YOU AND I WOULD MEET…)

You would speak

Of suns

You would speak

Of rays

Always

You would speak

Like that.

But

Above all

You would speak

Of our LANDS…

(WHEN YOU AND I WOULD TRAVEL TOGETHER…)

The road

So rough,

You would say.

I would watch you.

You would ask me –

What’s your opinion?

How does the road seem to you?

Beautiful,

I would reply.

The road

So beautiful,

You would repeat…

(WHEN YOU AND I WOULD WORK TOGETHER AT NOON…)

Everyday

At

Noon

You and I would meet.

You and I would work.

Sometimes you would come

Feeling tired

Sometimes

You would come

Leaving behind a sleepless night

You would come

With reddened eyes,

And you would say –

Sparks are tearing darkness apart,

Have you noticed that?

There were sparks

On each coming morrow

Dressing the ‘LIBERTY’ street

In read and black clothes…

(WHEN YOU AND I WOULD PART TO MEET AGAIN…)

You and I would part

To meet

Again.

We would greet each other

A little tired though.

And you and I would part

To meet again

On the morrow.

You would tell me

People say –

“A new day is…”

And I would finish the phrase –

‘…A new hope.”

Smiling

At each other

You and I would part

To stand united

Again

Come what may…

(HE IS IMMORTAL…)

I know not

Who brought me the news!

He –

Is he still alive…?!

(I ignored it.)

I thought –

Isn’t that too early?!

I paused

For a while, then I went on –

He cannot extinguish!

YES,

HE IS IMMORTAL…!

I spoke up.

English translation by Ukë ZENEL Buçpapaj