You are for me a precious, cherished gift
so unexpected, full of sweet surprise.
I search for you again and often drift
to dream, for my delight I can’t disguise.
You are my secret strength and cryptic pride,
and since I’ve known you, heavens bear no toll,
in vain the pains and sufferings abide,
to adumbrate the waters of my soul.
My body’s dust is lighter now, unsealed;
my heart is resting heavy, walled with love,
like fruitful branches, which in autumn yield,
and blessings carry, as you look above.
Gigantic, like the sky, replete with stars,
my soul’s reflecting you as in a lake,
and deep, since then, my thoughts, like wealthy czars,
regard the dust of heartache, meager, fake.
And if I were to pay you for all these,
I couldn’t, so my prodigal, don’t spurn
the truth that I do love you, for, with ease,
the gifts you gave, I’ll gift you in return.
(from the volume Testament - 400 de ani de poezie românească - 400 Years of Romanian Poetry - Daniel Ionita - editor and principal translator, assisted by Daniel Reynaud, Adriana Paul and Eva Foster - Minerva Publishing- 2019)
Translator: Daniel Ionita
see more poems written by: Magda Isanos
