George Bacovia

  Lacustrine Dwellings

For many nights I hear the rain,

I hear matter cry in vain

I am alone dreaming again

About lacustrine dwellings.

It seems I sleep on soaking boards,

A wave hits on my back, I sank

I startle and I don`t recall

Pulling the bridge off from the bank.

Through history a void has stretched,

To those forgotten times, a lapse

I `m there now and I can hear

Heavy with rain the stilts collapse.

For many nights I hear the rain,

I tremble, I feel a timeless pain

I am alone dreaming again

About lacustrine dwellings.

  December

Look up at the snowing December,

My love, through the windows, watch higher –

And tell them to bring us some embers, 

To hear the cracking of fire.

Push closer your chair and listen

Wind`s rattle in chimney, the roar,

The storm or my days -all the same –

I wish I could learn their score.

And tell them to bring us some tea

Come closer, my darling, and sit

Now read me some tales from the poles,

Let it snow, let the snow be our crypt.

And all in the house is so sacred,

And here with you is so warm –

Look up at the snowing December,

Don’t laugh…don`t cry…and read on.

And tell them to bring us a lamp,

It’s daylight, so dark and so cold –

The fence has been buried by snow,

And white frost has coated the bolt.

A flood of snow everywhere

Today I am not going home,

Look up at the snowing December,

Don’t cry…don`t laugh…and read on.

Translated by Paul Doru Mugur

*Many thanks to Liviu Georgescu for the suggestions regarding the translations