U malenoj krčmi

iz knjige Stihom kroz život (2010.)

In a Little Tavern

from the book Through Life in Verse (2010)

U malenoj krčmi,"ISPOD STARE LIPE"vjerujte, ljudi,anđela sam sreo,dok sam toplu,crnu kavu pio.Bila je java,ne, nisam snio.

In a little tavern,"ISPOD STARE LIPE",believe me, good people,I met an angel there,while I sat and sippedmy coffee, black and hot.It was waking life,no, a dream it was not.

Lagano korača,kao da ne hoda.Plava joj se kosaoko glave vije.Tako je divna,nježna i mila.Samo kad bimoja bila.

Lightly she is stepping,as if she didn't walk.Her fair hair is windinground about her head.She's so very lovely,tender, sweet and fine.If she onlycould be mine.

Na usnama osmijehkao lahor lebdi.Poljubac mi šaljepo mirisnoj ruži.Vatrenim očimasrce mi probode.Trgoh se, prenuh.Iz snova mi ode.

On her lips a smile,like a breeze, is drifting.She sends a kiss to meupon a fragrant rose.With her eyes of fireshe pierced my heart right through.I started, I woke:from my dreams she flew.

Valpovo, 21. 12. 1974.

Valpovo, December 21, 1974

Translator's note. The tavern's name, "Ispod stare lipe", means "Beneath the Old Linden".