Public Republic

Dimana Ivanova

Photo: LaPrimaDonna

“And I saw a New sky and a New land, which were governed by truth!”
“Revelation” by Ioan Bogoslov

She called from America
and said:
“I conceived my child alone!”
From the air,
still wet in space,
caught by the ocean’s breath,
the wind through which you sent me
kisses,
songs,
angels,
and birds!
Letters, like alchemical globes,
into which stares
our love!
Come to me!
Come back immediately!
The child needs a father!…

And I set off to you, like Sisyphus,
I climb
along the umbilical nerves,
with arms open like a crucifixion,
I balance on the rope of the Equator,
hung between Europe and America,
the laundry of fragrant, white clouds,
like brand-new baby clothes,
with blankets of azure and passion!
I crawl with sorrow, heavy as a backpack,
and a backpack, like a hump, full
of towels, shirts, diapers and books –
I, the turtle, hunched by Eros
from all unfulfilled desires,
I crawl towards you, a girl from America,
as if towards the New land
of our eternity!

Translated from Bulgarian by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer