Autumn twilight [Amurg de toamnă]

A flock of swallows quickly flies
I follow them with thoughtful eyes,
To distant lands they go again,
I feel within a secret pain!
For autumn chasing them with strife
Has fallen also on my life!
I'm sad to see they go away,
My eyes shed tears, my heart protests,
Yet, they'll be back to their dear nests,
But our sweet love, but our heyday?

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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My bonny... [Frumoasa mea...]

My bonny, you have big green eyes
Resembling emeralds which glow,
To other warmer lands you go
For getting rid of tears and sighs.

But if you think of a surprise,
Then touch my body nice and slow,
And watch me with your big green eyes
Resembling emeralds which glow.

A lot of men will come to you
Their love in verses to confess:
They'll say it nicer than I do,
But in their heart they'll love you less!

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Song of Malena [Cântecul Malenei]

At dawn I was a gurgling brook
Through violets winding with delight;
My waves were bluer than the sky
When flocks of swallows are in sight!

At noon, however, love resolved
To charm me and I was misled,
That's why my water now is foul
And all those flowers fair are dead!

But if you look through the dense boughs
At dusk, when you're inside your shack,
And on the pane you see a tear
It's likely that I have come back!

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Depths [Adâncuri]

How smiles the lake and charms the eye
Under the sun's bright shining rays
When the blue image of the sky
Is mirrored by its sparkling waves.

And in the mud, in waters deep,
The fight is fierce and without break
For lots of beings fret and creep
When calm prevails upon the lake.

We smile deceiving all along
As do the waves which gently roll.
We look composed, but passions strong
Hide in the depths of our poor soul!

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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The corpse [Cadavrul]

The corpse is lying on the bed,
Immersed in gloom it does appear,
Because bewitched by other sphere
The soul divine abruptly fled.

And the quick mind inside the head
Has fully stopped to interfere,
The corpse is lying on the bed,
Immersed in gloom it does appear.

Repulsive, heavy as the lead,
And its appearance fair and clear,
Which used to spread a perfume dear,
Today is nothing but a shred...

The corpse is lying on the bed.

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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To the one I'm waiting for [Aşteptatei]

I'm thirsty for a new romance!
I long for its delights, it's true,
As wilting flowers crave the dew
Which gives them all a second chance.

I'm weary of the phony kiss,
That sightless lie which takes its toll...
In vain the dames who lost their soul
Have tried to make me feel the bliss!

Because the things that I adore
Are buried in my heart for sure,
Big gems of love sincere and pure
Like all the kisses sweet of yore.

I keep them there for you alone
And you'll receive them with much glee
When you some day are sent to me,
My wife, who now you're still unknown!

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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Adieu [Adio]

Let us just strangers to remain;
Each other's smile thus to reject,
That love is ultimately vain
Like in a dream to recollect!

And our past love, so badly scarred,
Let's cover with a thick black shroud
And chilly rays of disregard
To feel that in our hearts will crowd!

The memories to us will flee,
But we'll perceive them as a dream
That back in time in a great glee
We bathed our souls and made them gleam.

And let's not cry when bitter grief
Cuts in our hearts a painful sore;
For we'll preserve a sweet relief,
The smile of that dear love of yore!

[...] Read more

poem by Cincinat Pavelescu, translated by Octavian Cocoş
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