Marcinelle
the pigeons are asleep now
and the cyclone rages
amid the wild rustle of the trees
follows the suspicious silence
thunder and cannons echo in the distance
and here it rains
and rips everything
the foliage screams
trees stand ready to leave
and among the wild blackberry bush
opened just like a bare-breasted
old woman
the lighting
reveals
two rotten tree trunks
lying in the mud
bodies of two lovers
with bare branches like arms
that stir
curses
or moans
learn to live
by the peaceful edge
is the bread and the steaming pot
here is the knife
take the knife to cut the bread
take the knife
take the knife, I tell you, worker
tonight
be extra careful, tonight
t h i s n i g h t i s n o t l i k e o t h e r n i g h t s
Manolis Aligizakis 