I am the most handsome of all in this town,
The crammed streets are stunned as I walk without peer;
So sparkling and graceful the ring in my ear,
And so full of flowers my tie and my gown.
I am the most handsome of all in this town.
Conceived of the incest of sun rays and twilight
My gaze, with its splendour, caresses the dark,
The whole town is abuzz about me and my mark,
They fear me in secret, though, still, I'm their highlight.
I'm the prince of penumbrae, I am lord of the half-light.
I cannot avoid their lascivious gaze,
It waves through my hair like a silvery thread,
And all of them ask: am I living, or dead?
Why wear bright green socks, or a pasha's red fez?
There is no escape, though I'd hide in a maze...
My body with ribbons and sashes I cover,
The earth is a pedestal, high for my walk,
One pink eye I'll hide under eye-glass and lock.
And then my whole leg, when I step, I uncover,
But quickly I cover it, once again to uncover...
The other eye (yellow one) I let it to watch
The people who hold me as if clutching their dream,
Ha! Ha! If you knew just how silly you seem,
As you jump and you hop, for my black lips to touch.
The other eye watches, and I let it to watch.
A secret face-pencil enhances my form,
I bathe in fresh cider three times every night,
No spittle, just milk drools from my mouth, creamy-white.
My shoes help my slenderness as I perform,
My virtue's enhanced in pig's blood, thick and warm.
All the teeth in my mouth are plated with gold,
My waist is well tucked into a corset and shirt
I smoke a huge opium pipe with a squirt,
A tattoo's on my arm, of a bull big and bold,
And the laurel on my crown is a sight to behold!
Through my long and mysterious nails - what fright! -
The hideous cat-head umbrella is grinning,
And I don't know why, when I'm happy and winning,
As I lead all the people to temptation and sinning,
From me jump some snakes full of poison and bite.
Like trees, I sprout branches and twigs silky, light,
And now even nature, omniscient with reason,
Is unsure what I am? Man or flower, or season,
A tower perhaps, setting houses alight,
A tower with gems falling down, precious, bright.
I am the most handsome of all in this town,
The crammed streets are stunned as I walk without peer;
So sparkling and graceful the ring in my ear,
And so full of flowers my tie and my gown.
I AM the most handsome of all in this town.
Translator: Daniel Ioniță
see more poems written by: Radu Stanca
