Five Ephemeras in Memory of a New Year

                   by Erik Stinus

        i

the sky is hazy   neutral    a fragile slope

calm after a violent nightmare

leaning over the sea it is stretching

and nearing   happy and surprised

that reality is coming to meet it

these green trees    those poor men

schoolgirls carrying books in their arms

the dark bound them to blindness

the morning dissolves all shadows

all eyes are seeing

        ii

look at these eyes

roses and cherry blossom

ships and birds   fading stars

and the torch procession

these red faces wearing no masks

but singing   and with their songs

conquering the false darkness

the churchyards and the crematoriums

to preach the gospel in a new way

        iii

since you led me into the desert

telling me about the secret life of stones

since you showed me the lone fertility of the oases

I'll whisper to you

that I don't like to see women in uniform

because I want beauty to be immortal

that men in khaki would be more useful

playing cards and drinking beer

that I want the music to return

the music of the waterfall

and the colors of the rainbow

of the swamp   the colors of nakedness

and of love

       iv

today all has recovered its voice

we need no longer speak our mother tongue

                                                            to be understood

water lilies have tongues

chestnuts have tongues

all dumb things speak and listen

and winding concrete roads

cannot frighten us with their autumn

their heartless mirrors and headlights

        v

I am standing at the bulwark

singing for you

day and night

singing your own songs to call you back

I see you once more at your stage entrance

the snow of spotlights lying on your shoulders

birds of sorrow

sitting on your head

and you ready to re-conquer

the indifferent darkness of your audience

with your love

                                                Erik Stinus