radu andriescu - the catalan within

(fragment din text)

I can no longer find

my equilibrium; yet, as the king of luthiers

used to say, I have a dream. I dream

of a town forgotten among hills transformed into

rhythm. I dream

of people. I dream of something more than

a coterie. I dream that the thistle is the clean-shaven visage

of a prophet. I hope that my diaphanous Blanchette dispenses happiness

throughout the world. I dream of the almighty Catalan crushing

between his fingernails

the louse of soul dryness. I dream of hierarchs.

And equilibrium. I dream of frost as clean as

Blend-a-Med toothpase. I hope

not to be shot. I hope never to have my driver’s license

suspended again. I hope my books will be

circulated. I hope my memories will not

shrivel. I hope my enzymes

will thrive. I hope our helmsman will see many

a future day. I hope the Catalan within

will not die. I hope to defeat the white louse fat as a dragon,

the winged brontosaur. I hope

to see. I hope

to nourish myself. I hope

to voyage beyond.

To find.

(translated by adam j. sorkin and radu andriescu, longleaf press, 2007)