POEME ROMÂNESTI ÎN LIMBI STRĂINE
Mircea IVĂNESCU
Darkness
One night it poured so heavily, with flashes of lightning,
and when we emerged from the house where we’d been waiting
in vain, there was an electric power failure in the village.
we walked on the main road – after a while we even stopped hurrying.
after a few paces, she took off her sandals – and walked
barefooted on the warm asphalt of the main road.
it poured so heavily – we held each other by the hand – we ran for
some time. she laughed – greatly rejoicing – i was solemn –
but i kept on running holding her by the arm. and only later,
when the lightning struck and a short white day dawned, i noticed
we had overstepped our yard by far.
English version by Gabriela PACHIA