Centre for Romanian Studies

Broken-wine-glass © cecilia Dutoit Rundu

Paul Sterian
(I’m drunk again)

I’m drunk again
with this rich, confusing wine
I’m drunk with God!
God as inn keeper
God as wine
God as drinking mate.
why are you getting me drunk
why are you getting me confused
you heartless inn keeper
unerring companion
you, wine, sweetest poison?
might you be coveting my riches?
take them!
might you steal my thoughts?
take them!
might you take my happiness?
take it!
might you give me
your cross?
I take it!

(Rendered in English
by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2012, Copyright Constantin ROMAN)

Paul STERIAN
( Poet of Romania’s Communist Prisons)

Mă’mbăt mereu

mă’mbăt mereu
cu vin ameţitor şi greu
mă’mbăt cu dumnezeu!

dumnezeu cârciumar
dumnezeu vin
dumnezeu tovarăş la băut.

pentru ce mă îmbeţi
pentru ce mă ameţeşti
crâşmare nemilos
tovarăşule nelipsit
vinule otravă dulce?

vrei să-mi iei averile?
Na-ţi-le;
vrei să-mi iei gândurile?
ia-ţi-le;
vrei să-mi iei bucuriile?
na-ţi-le;

vrei să-mi dai
crucea?
o iau!