Poem
Oksana Zabuzhko
Farewell Among the Stars
It’s just that I’m myself, and no one else.I too will die. And I won’t escape punishment either.
Everything my name designates
Will be beaten like yellow dust
Out of my belongings, my papers, my addresses
(Which are scattered over half the globe).
Still, some future brother of mine, name unknown,
Might sob one night in his sleep: “Where are you now?”
And that will be enough. Look: the pollen-like smudges
On fingers touching an antique mirror
And the luminous whistle, like skates slashing ice,
Will long resound in open space.
And a child, gasping with wonder,
Will turn skyward his face chilled by sentient tears –
And that will be enough: my life will have been realized.
Then – keep on without me.
© Translation: 1996, Lisa Sapinkopf
From: A Kingdom of Fallen Statues
Publisher: Wellspring Ltd., Toronto, 1996
From: A Kingdom of Fallen Statues
Publisher: Wellspring Ltd., Toronto, 1996
FAREWELL AMONG THE STARS
© 1992, Oksana Zabuzhko
From: Novyj Zakon Arkhimeda. Vybrani Virshi 1980-1998
Publisher: Acta, Kharkiv
From: Novyj Zakon Arkhimeda. Vybrani Virshi 1980-1998
Publisher: Acta, Kharkiv
Poems
Poems of Oksana Zabuzhko
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Farewell Among the Stars
It’s just that I’m myself, and no one else.I too will die. And I won’t escape punishment either.
Everything my name designates
Will be beaten like yellow dust
Out of my belongings, my papers, my addresses
(Which are scattered over half the globe).
Still, some future brother of mine, name unknown,
Might sob one night in his sleep: “Where are you now?”
And that will be enough. Look: the pollen-like smudges
On fingers touching an antique mirror
And the luminous whistle, like skates slashing ice,
Will long resound in open space.
And a child, gasping with wonder,
Will turn skyward his face chilled by sentient tears –
And that will be enough: my life will have been realized.
Then – keep on without me.
© 1996, Lisa Sapinkopf
From: A Kingdom of Fallen Statues
Publisher: 1996, Wellspring Ltd., Toronto
From: A Kingdom of Fallen Statues
Publisher: 1996, Wellspring Ltd., Toronto
Farewell Among the Stars
It’s just that I’m myself, and no one else.I too will die. And I won’t escape punishment either.
Everything my name designates
Will be beaten like yellow dust
Out of my belongings, my papers, my addresses
(Which are scattered over half the globe).
Still, some future brother of mine, name unknown,
Might sob one night in his sleep: “Where are you now?”
And that will be enough. Look: the pollen-like smudges
On fingers touching an antique mirror
And the luminous whistle, like skates slashing ice,
Will long resound in open space.
And a child, gasping with wonder,
Will turn skyward his face chilled by sentient tears –
And that will be enough: my life will have been realized.
Then – keep on without me.
© 1996, Lisa Sapinkopf
From: A Kingdom of Fallen Statues
Publisher: 1996, Wellspring Ltd., Toronto
From: A Kingdom of Fallen Statues
Publisher: 1996, Wellspring Ltd., Toronto
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