The bouquet [Buchetul]

The sun was shining high above
When I gave you in a bouquet
My precious and consuming love
And my heart's secret in that day.
The posy was my youth, my pearl,
And if today lies withered here,
You maybe didn't kiss it, girl,
O, lovely Mary, O, my dear.

For eons you cannot be mine,
You know it and I know it well,
But love is like a sweet red wine
And getting sober is a hell.
Yet, when in reverie you're caught,
If you can see that bouquet clear,
Give to the poet a nice thought,
O, lovely Mary, O, my dear.

poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Love [Amorul]

Sapphire stones, so blue and clear,
Filled by the light of serene sky
Look brighter and are nice and dear
In gold and platinum when lie.

The diamond on a pile of slags
Without its flames will soon remain,
And so a body dressed in rags
Can't make us cheer or go insane.

The best idea of the mind
When it is not properly clothed
In words majestic and refined
It's just a beggar and it's loathed.

The garb is lovely, I agree,
But when the passion vile and rude
Swells up the chest – the Love will be
Far more exquisite when it's nude.

poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Excelsior

When the moon is full and bright
And its charm is falling down,
Every roof you see in town
Is a puddle filled with light.

In the night that's looking blue
Silver rain superbly shines,
Like a dream of lofty rhymes,
Lovely tunes, and whispers, too.

From the starry worlds on high
Magic comes now here below
And envelops nice and slow
The sad valley of the cry.

When the golden dust is great,
Flowers shine and stars are bright,
What bad thoughts can dim the light,
And what dragon, and what fate?

[...] Read more

poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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May [Mai]

May! May! and the aurora sheds many topaz tears,
May: the white lily's calyx, the flower of sweet love,
The voices of the foliage, the rays, the trance, the cheers,
Make me forget life's torture and that I'll die thereof.

May: and a boat is floating on the tranquil cold wave,
And morning sky is bluish, and spoonbills gloat indeed,
And moons pervade the heaven, serenity they crave,
Pure nenuphars are present, and silver pools, and reed.

And everywhere a nature so blonde, with so young face,
And in the sky Apollo, the god who's kind and smart,
Gives rein to his gold horses in a fantastic race
And from his shining carriage shots arrows in the heart.

poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Rays [Raze]

If this time I wanna gather lots of rays to end my grief
It's because the furrowed foreheads, which the sorrow has bent down,
When the crown of rays surrounds them find a holy quick relief
And forget the howl of passion coming from the crazy town.

Now, for me, the distant heavens can no more obscure the light,
I exchange my worldly kingdom for my kingdom in the sky,
To the day that's everlasting with my wings I soar in flight,
So the fate may crush me harshly with its heel and let me die.

I'll get dressed this time in bright rays, so my garb will be refined,
I have played my part in earnest in this world which is so wide
If I leave behind my body I do this to lift my mind
And I'm sure will understand me only those who grieved and sighed.

poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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In the strips of woods [În arcane de pădure]

In the strips of woods, the darkness in a scary way is clinging.
Both the crowded leaves are silent and the slender trees, so high;
Night is dumb, and sad, and dying, sheltered by the opaque sky,
But the nightingale is singing, but the nightingale is singing.

In the strips of woods, the tempest in a scary way is spinning,
Sending down a flood of water and a crimson bolt of flame;
Why is harmony a nuisance and a fury without aim,
But the nightingale is singing, but the nightingale is singing.

In the strips of woods, the terror with the quietness is mingling,
Late aurora under foliage cannot come to light the moss,
For in front of it the darkness blocks the way and lies across –
But the nightingale is singing, but the nightingale is singing.

poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Memories [Amintiri]

In people's mind, however blurred,
Remain the times when they were glad...
So in my soul are always stirred
The memories of what I had;

Here I can see a house so white...
Sweet girls, round dances, butterflies,
Leaves on the trees, flowers and light,
A pure white dove that quickly flies!

I see myself on other shores
A wanderer on foreign plains,
And by blue lakes my heart adores,
With hard black rocks and old remains!

And here I see a lad absorbed,
With a nice woman on his arm...
Their hearts are beating in accord
Discovering the Heaven's charm!

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poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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The well [Fântâna]

I
I know a small well in the shadowy vale
A chirping gold starling has urged me to sleep
Beneath the high poplars, with green foliage veil,
Forgetting the city where my sigh was deep.

I know a small well in the shadowy vale
A blackbird I talked to down there, for it pried,
When learned that I suffered and heard my sad wail,
Laughed loudly and deeply, but I only sighed...

I know a small well in the shadowy vale

II
In foliage lies hidden the white-looking vale
And what have I wanted in this passing world?
I pity myself, the sad folks who prevail...
O, you, finely chirping and nice golden bird

In foliage lies hidden the white-looking vale

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poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Among the leaves [Între frunze]

The garden holds the secret of everlasting bliss
And every blade of grass its passion will fulfill;
It's May, and all the leaves now feel the love's sweet kiss
And its confusing thrill.

The gillyflower bends so charming its rosette,
Carnation in the sun is laughing like a queen,
The vine, on apple tree crawls lovingly and wet
Embracing its trunk green.

The Morning Glories, with the slender arms of theirs,
Climb on the cherry tree and reach the twigs above,
While cherries, near the leaves that are disposed in pairs,
Are blushing and make love.

A song is rising fast towards the sun that shines,
Spreading enormous love and hugs in the blue sky,
A gorgeous charming poem composed of burning lines
And full of secret sigh.

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poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Shattered harmonies [Acorduri sfărâmate]

I.
My sadness is as bitter as the relentless sea;
Depths like it has, enormous, are also found in me,
No eye could ever venture to see their bottom vast!
Only when storms were roaring, out of the clouded sky
A lightning, pale and slender, illumined them from high...
But then it vanished fast!

The Ship of Hope that carries above a heavy sail,
On those unsettled waters has never left a trail.
A waterway, a furrow, to glitter in the sun!
Deceptions came to cheat me, so many I could see;
I thought the ship was coming, but they all stayed with me:
To other realms would run!

II.
Oppressed by fate forever and lying in the storm,
A rock resounds and shatters when billows come and swarm:
Vibrates a lot the echo as if it wails and cry!
Likewise, my heart a rock is, enduring tempest's rage

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poem by Alexandru Macedonski, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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