DAVID LEHMAN
Dutch Interior

He liked the late afternoon light as it dimmed
In the living room, and wouldn't switch on
The electric lights until past eight o'clock.
His wife complained, called him cheerless, but
It wasn't a case of melancholy; he just liked
The way things looked in air growing darker
So gradually and imperceptibly that it seemed
The very element in which we live. Every man
And woman deserves one true moment of greatness
And this was his, this Dutch interior, entered
And possessed, so tranquil and yet so busy
With details: the couple's shed clothes scattered
On the backs of armchairs, the dog chasing a shoe,
The wide open window, the late afternoon light.

(1991)
from Valentine Place by David Lehman (Scribner, 1996)

DAVID LEHMAN
Interior Olandez

Ii placea lumina de dupa-amiaza tarzie cum licarea
In sufragerie, si nu vroia sa aprinda
Luminile electrice decat dupa opt
Sotia sa se plangea, facandu-l deprimat, dar
Nu era un caz de melancolie, doar ca ii placea
Felul in care lucrurile aratau in aer tot mai intunecat
Atat de gradual si imperceptibil incat parea
Chiar elementul in care traim. Orice barbat
Si femeie merita un adevarat moment de maretie
Si acesta era al lui, acest interior olandez, patruns
Si posedat, linistit si totusi incarcat
Cu detalii: hainele lepadate ale cuplului imprastiate
Pe spatarele scaunelor, cainele alergand dupa un pantof,
Geamul deschis larg, lumina de dupa-amiza tarzie.

Traducere:

Moise Alexandru
Clasa : a X-a D
C.N. “ Mihai Eminescu”
Buzau
DAVID LEHMAN