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Three Poems from Strawberry Aftertaste/ Ostateczny Smak Truskawek
 

* * *

zieleń jest zielona

 

z rana

przymrozki

 

czujesz to w ziemi

 

w białej sukience

 

dalej

przechodzą

 

nie wiedzą

 

jak zimno może być

 

w białej sukience

 

 

* * *

greenery is green

 

come morning

frost outside

 

you feel it in the ground

 

in their white dresses

 

on and on

they pass by

 

not knowing

 

how cold it can get

 

in a white dress

 

 

 

* * *

patronko

dziewic

i producentów

świec woskowych

daj

któregoś

z niebieskich pasterzy

odetnę mu skrzydła

żyletką

* * *

patron saint

of virgins

and the makers

of ceremonial candles

give me

one of your

heavenly hosts

I will cut his wings off with a

razor

 

 

 

* * *

będziesz

go kąpać

osuszać ręcznikiem

delikatnie

kłaść do łóżka

karmić

jak niemowlę

zrywać się nocą

gdy zakwili

będziesz go znowu

miała

jak twoje dziecko

gdy wyrwiesz

ziemi

ciało

i wtedy minie

twoja gorączka

* * *

you will

bathe him

towel him off

delicately

lay him to bed

feed

him like a baby

rise in the night

when he moans

will again

have him

like a child

when you tear

the body

from the earth

and then your

fever shall pass

 

 

Genowefa Jakubowska-Fijałkowska’s poems have been published in numerous journals and newspapers, in her native Polish as well as in English, German, Czech, Russian and Slovene translations. Her most recent bilingual collection, of me a worm and of the worm verses (2012), was published by OFF_PRESS in London. Having twice been awarded the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage scholarship, she still lives and works in Mikołów.


ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

's poems have been published in numerous journals and newspapers, in her native Polish as well as in English, German, Czech, Russian and Slovene translations. Her most recent bilingual collection, of me a worm and of the worm verses (2012), was published by OFF_PRESS in London. Having twice been awarded the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage scholarship, she still lives and works in Mikołów.

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