Bremerhaven

Christmas in Bremerhaven. Every twig sheathed
in transparent ice like tubes of glass, each breath
steam as it left our lips.
I did not want to go to the fair

You would have liked to poke through toys
even in freezing rain, and relished the stalls
of rich cakes, bought some German games,
but I did not want to be there.

Then, in a wooden booth where we took shelter,
my son and I drank gluhwein and spoke of you.
He was still angry about childhood memories,
and , as he spoke, suddenly, you were there,

---- one-off, sardonic and obstreperous ---
as if we had conjured your hot presence
to stand for a moment solidly between us,
before you dissolved back into the air.

Bremerhaven

Craciunul in Bremerhaven. Fiecare ramurica invelita
In gheata transparenta ca niste tuburi de sticla, fiecare rasuflare
De pe buzele noastre devenea abur.
Eu nu am vrut sa merg la targ.

Ti-ar fi placut sa scotocesti prin jucarii
chiar si in ploaia inghetata, si sa savurezi tarabele
pline de prajituri, sa cumperi niste jocuri nemtesti,
dar eu nu imi doream sa fiu acolo.

Apoi, ne-am adapostit intr-un chiosc de lemn,
eu si cu fiul meu ne incalzeam cu vin fiert si vorbeam despre tine.
El mai era inca suparat pe amintiri din copilarie,
si cum vorbea, dintr-o data, tu ai aparut acolo,

--- unicul, sardonicul si indisciplinatul---
ca si cum iti invocasem prezenta insufletita
sa stea aievea cu noi pentru un moment,
inainte sa dispari iar in vazduh.

Florentina Rahira Tinte
 

Bremerhaven

Christmas in Bremerhaven. Every twig sheathed
in transparent ice like tubes of glass, each breath
steam as it left our lips.
I did not want to go to the fair

You would have liked to poke through toys
even in freezing rain, and relished the stalls
of rich cakes, bought some German games,
but I did not want to be there.

Then, in a wooden booth where we took shelter,
my son and I drank gluhwein and spoke of you.
He was still angry about childhood memories,
and , as he spoke, suddenly, you were there,

---- one-off, sardonic and obstreperous ---
as if we had conjured your hot presence
to stand for a moment solidly between us,
before you dissolved back into the air.

Bremerhaven

Craciun in Bremerhaven. Fiecare ramurica acoperita
in transparente teci sticloase ca de gheata, fiecare respiratie
desprinsa de pe buze ni se transforma-n abur.
N-a fost dorinta mea sa merg la targ.

Ti-ar fi placut sa rascolesti printre papusi
chiar pe o ploaie inghetata si ai fi savurat tonetele
pline cu prajituri si ai fi cumparat cateva jocuri nemtesti,
dar eu nu voiam sa fiu acolo.

Apoi, intr-o cabina de lemn unde ne-am retras,
eu si baiatul meu am baut vin fiert si am vorbit de tine.
Inca era nervos din cauza unor amintiri de cand era copil,
si, cand vorbea, brusc, ai fost si tu cu noi,

--- o singura secunda, rautacios si neascultator –
ca si cand ti-am fi invocat prezenta fierbinte
sa stea o clipa, legata, intre noi doi,
inainte sa te topesti din nou in aer.

Gabriela Moldovan
 

Bremerhaven

Christmas in Bremerhaven. Every twig sheathed
in transparent ice like tubes of glass, each breath
steam as it left our lips.
I did not want to go to the fair

You would have liked to poke through toys
even in freezing rain, and relished the stalls
of rich cakes, bought some German games,
but I did not want to be there.

Then, in a wooden booth where we took shelter,
my son and I drank gluhwein and spoke of you.
He was still angry about childhood memories,
and , as he spoke, suddenly, you were there,

---- one-off, sardonic and obstreperous ---
as if we had conjured your hot presence
to stand for a moment solidly between us,
before you dissolved back into the air.

Bremerhaven

Craciun in Bremerhaven. Fiecare ramura e acoperita
de gheata transparenta, formand un buchet de tuburi
de sticla,aburi ies dintre buzele noastre.
Nu voiam sa merg la balci.

Ti-ar fi placut sa te pierzi printre jucarii,
chiar si in ploaia rece, sa ajungi la standurile
cu prajituri, sa cumperi jocuri nemtesti,
dar eu nu voiam sa merg acolo.

Apoi, in baraca de lemn in care ne-am adapostit,
fiul meu si cu mine am baut vin fiert si am discutat despre tine.
Era inca suparat din cauza unor amintiri din copilarie,
Si, deodata, in timp ce vorbea, ai aparut tu,

- ironic si galagios -
ca si cum am fi invocat prezenta ta,
ca sa stai pentru o clipa intre noi,
inainte sa te rispiesti in aer.
 

George Cojocaru

Bremerhaven

Christmas in Bremerhaven. Every twig sheathed
in transparent ice like tubes of glass, each breath
steam as it left our lips.
I did not want to go to the fair

You would have liked to poke through toys
even in freezing rain, and relished the stalls
of rich cakes, bought some German games,
but I did not want to be there.

Then, in a wooden booth where we took shelter,
my son and I drank gluhwein and spoke of you.
He was still angry about childhood memories,
and , as he spoke, suddenly, you were there,

---- one-off, sardonic and obstreperous ---
as if we had conjured your hot presence
to stand for a moment solidly between us,
before you dissolved back into the air.

Bremerhaven

Craciun in Bremerhaven. Fiece crenguta imbracata
In gheata transparenta precum un tub de sticla, fiece abur de rasuflare
Pe cand ne parasea buzele.
N-am vrut sa merg la targ.

Ti-ar fi placut sa scormonesti prin jucarii
Chiar si in ploaia inghetata si sa savurezi tarabele
Cu prajituri gustoase, sa cumperi cateva jocuri nemtesti,
Dar eu nu vroiam sa fiu acolo.

Apoi, intr-o ghereta de lemn unde ne-am adapostit,
Fiul meu si cu mine am baut vin fiert si-am vorbit de tine.
Era inca furios pe amintirile din copilarie,
Si, in timp ce vorbea, dintr-o data, ai aparut acolo,

---unic, sardonic si indisciplinat---
Ca si cum ti-am fi invocat prezenta-nsufletita
ca sa ramai o clipa aievea intre noi,
Inainte sa te pierzi din nou in vazduh.

Ileana Botescu-Sireteanu

Bremerhaven

Christmas in Bremerhaven. Every twig sheathed
in transparent ice like tubes of glass, each breath
steam as it left our lips.
I did not want to go to the fair

You would have liked to poke through toys
even in freezing rain, and relished the stalls
of rich cakes, bought some German games,
but I did not want to be there.

Then, in a wooden booth where we took shelter,
my son and I drank gluhwein and spoke of you.
He was still angry about childhood memories,
and , as he spoke, suddenly, you were there,

---- one-off, sardonic and obstreperous ---
as if we had conjured your hot presence
to stand for a moment solidly between us,
before you dissolved back into the air.

Bremerhaven

Craciun in Bremerhaven. Ramurile toate acoperite
de o pojghita transparenta de gheata , ca niste eprubete,
aburi ne rasareau pe buze cu fiecare respiratie.
Nu am vrut sa merg la balci.
Ai fi vrut sa scotocesti prin jucarii
In ciuda ploii reci, si sa te desfeti in pravaliile
Cu dulciuri apetisante, sa cumperi jocuri nemtesti,
Dar eu nu am vrut sa merg.

Apoi, in baraca de lemn in care ne-am adapostit,
Am baut …………. Cu fiul meu sin e-am amintit de tine.
Inca il dureau amintirile din copilarie,
Si vorbele lui te readuceau printer noi.

- - - o manifestare sardonica si zgomotoasa- - -
De parca tu cu temperamental tau volcanic ai fi fost
pentru o clipa printer noi in carne si si oase,
inainte de a te evapora.

Roxana Mindrican