And When the Murmurs...

And when the murmurs of my inner thoughts cease,
I sink into the stilled hush of sweet piety -
It's then I want you. So come to me,
Part the cold mist so I can see your face.

And can you lift the power of this night, but gently
With those large eyes, those messengers of peace?
Rise up through the shadows of space
And time so I'll see you coming -
Like a dream you come to me!

Come to me slowly... nearer and nearer,
Look down into my eyes as you lean over smiling
And if you sigh, I'll know your love is true.

Let your eyelashes near my eyelids linger
So I can sense your heart beating -
Though lost to me, I still worship you.

Când însuși glasul
English translation by Brenda Walker

From the Multitude of Masts

From the multitude of masts
Setting out with seagulls' cries,
How many will be torn apart as
Winds rise, waves rise?

Of those migratory birds
Filing land and sea with cries,
How many will be drowned as
Waves rise, winds rise?

If you throw away good fortune
Or ideals, likewise
You'll be followed everywhere, when
Winds rise, waves rise.

The subtlety of what you write
They'll never recognize,
Yet your song will sing in flight
As waves rise, winds rise.

Dintre sute de catarge
English translation by Brenda Walker

Time flows by...

Time flows by, and has passed like rivers
Since that hallowed moment we first saw each other,
Yet I'll never forget the love we had together,
You miracle, with large eyes and cold fingers.

Oh, come back! To bring words only you can inspire,
Watch over me so your gaze gently lingers,
Let me marvel at this moment that hungers
For those new words you wring from my lyre.

You're not even aware that when you're near
A great peace descends to quell my agony,
Just like the silence at the rising of a star;

If I could only see you like a child, smiling up at me,
All the suffering of my life would disappear,
My eyes rekindle, my soul grow within me.

Sunt ani la mijloc
English translation by Brenda Walker

A Dacian's Prayer - Mihai Eminescu

When there was no death, nor immortality,
Nor any seeds of light for life's entity,
There was no today, or tomorrow, yesterday, or forever,
Because life springs from one and everything was together,
When the whole earth, the sky, the air, and sea
Were among those things which had yet to be -
There was only You! So I find myself asking:
Who is this god to whom we'are all praying?

He was alone, the only god, there was no other
And for life's spark drew power from vastness of water.
He gave souls to other gods, and happiness to his creation,
Remaining for mankind the source of their salvation:
Lift up your hearts! Praise him in your belief,
He is the death of death, the resurrection of life.

And he gave me eyes so I could see the light,
And a heart that filled at every pitiable sight.
I heard his footsteps when the wind was whining,
And his loving words, in the voice of a song, -
But despite all these gifts I have one more request:
Allow me the gift of eternal rest!

Let him curse all those who now would pity me,
Let him bless those determined to oppress me,
Let him listen to any mouth that wants to insult me,
And put strength into the arm that's about to kill me,
And make first among men, he that when I'm dead
Would rob me of the stone they place at my head.

And let them chase me through life, let them harass me
Until I feel the tear ducts of my eyes empty,
And each man in this world to be my sworn enemy,
Until I no longer recognise my own body,
Until feelings turn to stone after so much agony,
Until I curse my mother, whom once I loved dearly -
For if cruel hate turned to the love that I deny,
Perhaps I'd forget suffering, and then could die.

Let me die a stranger, alone in banishment,
Let them throw my worthless corpse wherever they want.
Let the dogs rip out my heart, and to the man who incites them,
To him, Father, - give a golden diadem.
But the one who would stone my face to disfigure me,
On him, Lord, take pity. Let him live eternally.

And only then can I thank you, dear Father,
For allowing me the chance to live on this sphere.
But I'm not going to kneel and plead for gifts from you,
Just hatred and curses are what I really beg of you,
And to feel that in your breath my own breath will cease,
Then vanish in eternal emptiness, without trace!

Rugăciunea unui dac
English translation by Brenda Walker

Now It's Autumn - Mihai Eminescu

Now it's autumn, leaves roam and scatter,
Again the wind flings heavy drops against the glazing;
And you're reading old letters, tattered and fading
And retrace a whole life-time in just one hour.

With sweet trifles you enjoy such time-wasting,
You'd hate to be disturbed by a tap on the shutter;
For when it's sleeting outside, it's so much better
To dream by the fireside, sleepily nodding.

So I stay in my chair, staring into the fire,
Dreaming of old tales and a fairy queen's sighs;
Around me the mist rises higher and higher;

Suddenly the rustling of silk makes me rise,
Steps so soft, barely touched by the old floor...
Then with slender, icy hands - you hide my eyes.

Afară-i toamnă
English translation by Brenda Walker 

Years Have Trailed Past... - Mihai Eminescu

Years have trailed past like clouds over a country,
And they'll never return, for they're gone forever,
And I no longer enjoy such light endeavour
As the magic of folk songs or the land of faery

Which as a child filled me with wonder,
Not quite understood yet meaning so much to me,
And now these shadows try to recapture me
In this hour of mystery, this twilight hour.

These trembling fingers touch the strings in vain
To find the right notes from the fading memory
Of youth, so that my soul can vibrate again.

Everything's disappeared from the horizon of that distant plain
And you can no longer hear the voice of past harmony.
Behind me time gathers... and I darken!

Trecut-au anii
English translation by Brenda Walker 

So Far Away From You - Mihai Eminescu

So far away from you and lonely by the fire,
I think about my luckless life while sitting here,
I seem to be eighty, and feel that I've lived
As long a time as winter, - that you're already dead.
Memories seep drop by drop into my soul,
Awakening within me what was once trivial;
The wind taps against the pane with its fingers,
The thread of tender moments is spun and lingers,
And there through the mist you again go past me
Tears in your large eyes, slender hands, icy,
With arms round my neck, you stay clinging
As if you'd something to tell me ... then you're sobbing...
Such treasure of love and beauty I hold close to my heart,
United in kisses, sad lives kept apart...
From now on let the voice of memory always be silent,
So I'll never again remember that chance moment,
For after that moment you tore yourself away...
I shall be old and lonely, you dead for many a day!

Departe sunt de tine
English translation by Brenda Walker