Jaj, ha a medve halkan tördeli ágak jég-süvegét, és ... - Turcsány Péter

Jaj, ha a medve halkan tördeli ágak jég-süvegét, és ... - Turcsány Péter Jaj, ha a medve halkan tördeli ágak jég-süvegét, és ... - Turcsány Péter

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Song of Thickets and Draggletailed Tendrils (Bozótok, loncsos indák éneke) You see but my footprints, the mere traces I leave, never the antlered forehead; never ever do you spy the trusting glance through your hunting rifle’s telescope, but I can change into a slice of bread – you can find me in the moment of a tender touch, or in the surging growth of medicinal herbs. You see but my footprints, the hollow traces of the Savior turned into Stag. For this is a song. A melody permeated by the spirit of the ancients. The antlers of my forehead carry the secret lightening of skyward-stretching trees – the thick, hidden knots in the mud cannot drag down the soaring flight of my hooves – the snows of winter retain the proof of my quiet visits; nor does the summer wind blow them away under the blossoming trees of sandy banks. And yet – when my surging mood spills over, my tongue licks the poppies in the heat of summer and the sewed grain starts to stick its head out from beneath the soil; meadows of still untouched forests give me a lair to rest; the rattle of heath and fallen leaves never betrays me, nor will the light that trails all my footprints. But prayers of yearning torment and silent sighs will recognize me always. Adam Makkai Prayer for the Prisoners of Alcohol (Fohász az alkohol foglyaiért) 278 People of the Booze – you, who hover over flat bottles hiding in side-pockets of clerks’ briefcases, you, who emerge from secret window-caves in editorial offices like fairies meting out kisses, or in small privately owned taverns, where the bartender refills your glass unasked; oh you, confidentially murmuring, busy male-bond around rum, slivovitz, moonshine and brandy bottles with the shameful ersatz of espresso coffee’s grains stuck between the teeth behind your stinking breath; oh you, metal-flasks in the pockets of tattered

army-fatigues, in who knows how many wars, before and after who knows how many battles…; in the teeth-rattling chilly compartments of trains dashing through the snow-covered region when the „heart strengthening” bottle makes its rounds, and that of which fewer stories are told: the mouthfuls of booze of light-weight dizziness of irresponsible kisses, the speedy tempo of the shaming sickness from stomach to the mouth and back spewing filth on shirts and trousers, or the splitting head-aches stronger than any regret; time riddled with holes, the paralysis of time dripping away; the rat-race of gourmets’ tastes, and the numbness of the gums followed by the rinsing of one’s palate – oh, you brotherhood of Hell! You, orifice of Hell! Man, like a drop of booze, starts to whirr and to eddy until he disappears in momentarily comforting, but devouring depths. Be You, Beloved Balance – between the snail’s gait-speed of collapsing into ourselves and the drift of floating amid the clouds – You be our quiet rhythm of walking-steps and of evenly beating wings – now and forever! Adam Makkai The invisible palace (A láthatatlan palota) One palace ‘s being built by everyone unbeknown to himself. With basements and with grilled and grated nooks; with towerchambers swaying into clouds. And no one else, but he shall build all that, each to and for himself. He ‘ll even choose the colour of his bricks alone, even the grades of his stairs shall be adjusted to his walk. Whoever stays below, forever creeps and crawls and never lifts his head, he’ll drag on his existence, like a mole. 279

army-fatigues, in who knows how many wars, before and after<br />

who knows how many battles…; in the teeth-rattling chilly<br />

compartments of trains dashing through the snow-covered<br />

region<br />

when the „heart strengthening” bottle makes its rounds, and<br />

t<strong>ha</strong>t<br />

of which fewer stories are told: the mouthfuls of booze of<br />

light-weight dizziness of irresponsible kisses, the speedy<br />

tempo of<br />

the s<strong>ha</strong>ming sickness from stomach to the mouth and back<br />

spewing filth on shirts and trousers, or the splitting head-aches<br />

stronger t<strong>ha</strong>n<br />

any regret; time riddled with holes, the paralysis of time<br />

dripping away; the rat-race of gourmets’ tastes, and the<br />

numbness of the gums followed by the rinsing of one’s palate<br />

– oh, you brotherhood of Hell!<br />

You, orifice of Hell! Man, like a drop of booze,<br />

starts to whirr and to eddy until he disappears in<br />

momentarily comforting, but devouring depths.<br />

Be You, Beloved Balance – between the snail’s gait-speed<br />

of collapsing into ourselves and the drift of floating amid the<br />

clouds – You be our quiet rhythm of walking-steps<br />

and of evenly beating wings – now and forever!<br />

Adam Makkai<br />

The invisible palace<br />

(A lát<strong>ha</strong>tatlan palota)<br />

One palace ‘s being built by everyone<br />

unbeknown to himself.<br />

With basements and with grilled and grated nooks;<br />

with towerc<strong>ha</strong>mbers swaying into clouds.<br />

And no one else, but he s<strong>ha</strong>ll build all t<strong>ha</strong>t,<br />

each to and for himself.<br />

He ‘ll even choose the colour of his bricks<br />

alone, even the grades of his stairs<br />

s<strong>ha</strong>ll be adjusted<br />

to his walk.<br />

Whoever stays below, forever creeps<br />

and crawls and never lifts his head,<br />

he’ll drag on his existence,<br />

like a mole.<br />

279

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