Elena Stefoi. Poems. CLP

8/11/2019 Elena Stefoi. Poems. CLP

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Elena tefoi

Grammar of the Tower of Babel

Gramatica Turnului BabelParallel Texts

Translated into English byAna Olos

Edited by

Lidia Vianu


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ISBN 978-606-8592-51-0

Cover and overall Layout: Lidia Vianu

Subediting:Irina Boroi, Alexandru TudorProofreading: Irina BoroiIllustrations: Cristina Ioana YoungIT Expertise: Simona SmulescuPublicity: Violeta Baroan

The University of Bucharest Elena tefoi Ana Olos Cristina Ioana Young for the photographs


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Grammar of the Tower of Babel

Gramatica Turnului Babel

Parallel TextsTranslated into English by

Ana OlosEdited by

Lidia Vianu


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A Grammar of the Tower of Babel. Gramatica Turnului Babel. Parallel Texts. 1

Table of Contents

Lidia Vianu: The Americans Were Coming. Canadele existenei. p. 4

Elena tefoiA Grammar of the Tower of Babel. Gramatica Turnului Babel

p. 6

New Year. An nou p. 7Elective Affinities. Afiniti elective p. 9Inukshuk Equilibrium. Echilibru de inukuk p. 12In the Hammock of my Own Beginning. n hamacul propriului nceput p. 14In the Noose of Summer Light. n laul luminii de var p. 16

Meetings at the Museum of Civilizations.ntlniri la Muzeul Civilizaiilor p. 18Before and After the Storm. nainte i dup furtun p. 19

Lessons of the Northern Tour. Leciile Turului Nordic p. 21Summer Watercolor on Rideau Canal. Pastel estival pe Canalul Rideau p. 25


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On Another Time Zone, in Another Story. Pe alt fus, n alt poveste p. 28Reporting from the Prairies. Reportaj n prerii p. 30Canadian Autumn. Toamn canadian p. 33September Day. Zi de septembrie p. 34

Anniversary in Ottawa. Aniversare la Ottawa p. 36

Random News, Collisions of System. Fapte diverse, ciocniri de sistem p. 38Between Two Canals. ntre dou canale p. 40On a Single Ticket. Pe un singur bilet p. 42On Wilbrod Street, One Saturday Morning. Pe strada Wilbrod, ntr-o smbt dimineaa p. 45Sunday Tour. Periplu duminical p. 49Late Spring. Primvar trzie p. 51Protect What You Love p. 52

Sunday Picture. Tablou de duminic p. 53

Back, from Darknesss Brink. napoi, de pe marginea negurii p. 57About the Cernica Seagull. Despre pescruul de la Cernica p. 59In the Long Run. Odat i-odat p. 62In the Distance, on the Railroad. n zare, pe calea ferat p. 63Rereadings. Recitiri p. 64Earth, Books and Protocol. rn, cri i protocol p. 66A New Beginning. Un nou nceput p. 67

Canadian Haiku p. 68

One Day More. nc o zi p. 68Late, in Silence. Trziu, pe tcute p. 68


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Eternal Story. Eterna poveste p. 69Forever between Us. ntre noi pentru totdeauna p. 69Only a Souvenir. O singur amintire p. 69About Us Two. Despre noi doi p. 70

Brother and Sister, like Us. Frate i sor, ca noi p. 70

On Rideau Canal. Pe Canalul Rideau p. 70Because I Loved You. Pentru c te-am iubit p. 71In the Silence of Sunset. n tcerea apusului p. 71Unpaired. Fr de preche p. 71About Times Passing. Despre trecerea timpului p. 72Ode to Oblivion. Od uitrii p. 72Late Spring. Primvar trzie p. 72

Nowhere to Run. Fr scpare p. 73

Sunday in Majors Park. Duminic n Parcul Maiorului p. 73Ottawa Spring. Primvar la Ottawa p. 73When You Betrayed Me. De cnd m-ai trdat p. 74At 1000 Islands. La 1000 de insule p. 74Biographical Tableau. Tablou biografic p. 74

Information about the poet p. 75Information about the translator p. 77

Information about the illustrator p. 78


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Canadele existenei The Americans Were Coming...

Turnul lui Babel este un nume strvechi pentru ceea ceElena tefoi numete ntr-un poem planeta n criz. Acestvolum este, cum zice un vers al poetei, gramatica TurnuluiBabel. Poezia este, pentru Elena tefoi, o explicaie a lucrurilorpe care prea multele cuvinte, prea multele limbi alepmntului le ascund.

Poemele construiesc o biografie: nscut ntr-un satmoldovenesc, plecat la ora la coal. Profesoar la ar,corector de revist la Bucureti. Cade Cortina de Fier. Dincorector poeta devine redactor-ef, i d doctoratul nFilosofie.

Cnd i amintesc de comunism, versurile vorbesc despreCanal, adic despre pucriile comuniste, despre dezgheulpoststalinist. Erau vremurile cnd romnul nelesese c nu

mai vin americanii...Se ntmpl apoi n aceste poeme c emigrantul srac, celcare duce un acas cu el n spinare, s ajung n placentacanadian. Se uit n jur i se bucur de trai bun i de soare

The Tower of Babel is a very old name for what Elena tefoicalls in a poem our planet in crisis.Her book isA Grammarofthe Tower of Babel: it tries to explain things hidden behind themany languages, the many words of our Earth.

The poets biography is all in her poems: she was born in aMoldavian village. She left her village when she began school.

Later on she was a teacher in another village. After that, shewas proof-reader for a magazine. The Iron Curtain fell. Shebecame editor-in-chief and took her PhD in Philosophy.

Some lines talk about communist political prisons and thetime after Stalin. A time when hopeful Romanians finallyunderstood the Americans were not coming after all. Thesentence Vin americanii! (The Americans are coming!)slowly lost its meaning.

Some went in search of the New World, either before orafter the fall of communism. Legally or less legally. Theycarried their imaginary home along. The poet herself found theCanadian placenta.Like a child, she enjoys landscapes and


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ca un copil. Triete n poem comarul c nu vor mai puteamult vreme s treac oceanul toi cinci cu acelai bilet decltorie. Patru dintre cei cinci nu mai exist. Poeta tragenapoi la ei, la copilrie.

n satul prsit cndva de mult, mama nc i pregtetelada cu zestre, chiar dac vrstele au trecut, iar poeta trieteacum n concubinaj cu literatura...

O poezie reticent i stingheriat ce scrie Elena tefoi,poeta-filosof, poeta-jurnalist, poeta-diplomat ambasadoare nCanada. Eroina unei poveti de succes, care este chiar viaa ei,chiar dac sensibilitatea fcut ndri de prea multe btliin-o las s se bucure de niciuna din Canadele existenei.

Gramatica Turnului Babelne nva limbajul universal alinteligenei care tie c e prea mic pentru un rzboi att de

mare cum este globalizarea, cum este internetul, cum estespaiul cosmic. Volumul acesta se uit la lume cunelepciunea romnului pe care l-au clcat toate limbilepmntului, i cu toate acestea cu toate acestea, el nc iscrie oful n romnete.

life there. A poem, however, reminds her that crossing theOcean all five of us on a single ticketcannot go on forever.Four of those five members of her family are not here any more.Many lines look back at them, at childhood.

In the village the poet left long ago, her mother is stillworking to have her peasant dowry chest ready, even thoughit is too late, and the poet is now literatures concubine...

Elena tefois poems are reticent and solitary. Philosopher,journalist, ambassador to Canada the poet writes down thesuccessful story of her own life. A sensibility broken to piecesby far too many battles prevents her from rejoicing.

We learn from this book the universal language of all thosewho are aware they are far too small for the great war ofglobalization, of the internet, of the outer space. And yet, thisbook watches the Tower of Babel with the Romanian hopefulwisdom that all languages are worth knowing.

Bucureti, 18 June 2014

Lidia Vianu


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A Grammar of the Tower of BabelGramatica Turnului Babel

Parallel Texts


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An nou

A fost frenezie de toamn prin primvar,dar i spaim cu trmbie la-nceput de decembrie.M-a rnit puin laul gtuitor al imensului gol,nainte de topirea zpezii. Cteva luni mai trziuculorile frunzelor de arar m-au nvat s dansezpe crare, dup vacana de var, cu povaraadus de-acas, de parc mi-a fi adusiubitul dinti la primul nostru bal vienez.

A fost din cnd n cnd negur cu sclipici,srcie cu protocol, victorie cu tone de zgurdar aproape tot timpul bucurie de viasimpl altfel i altcum dect tiam c exist.

Atept noul an pe dou fuse orare,fr s tiu pe care s-mi numr dorinelei m nfresc cu puiul de cariboudespre care am aflat c fuge pe picioarele luidup mama, miop i curios, prin peisajele arctice,imediat ce-a scpat din placent.

New Year

It was autumn frenzy throughout the springbut also fear with trumpets at the onset of December.The choking noose of the huge emptiness had hurt me a littlebefore the thaw of snow. Some months later,the colours of the maple leaves taught me to danceon the path, after the summer holiday, with the burdenbrought over from home, as if I had broughtmy first lover to our first Viennese ball.

From time to time, it was darkness with glitterpoverty with protocol, victory with tons of slagbut almost all the time the joy of lifesimply different and otherwise than I had known it be.

I am waiting for the New Year on two time zones,without knowing on which one to count my desiresand I fraternize with the baby caribouabout whom Ive heard that it runs on its own feetbehind its mother, short-sighted and curious,among the Arctic landscapes,


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O trec pe lista marilor frumuseicare mi-au tiat calea, privindu-m-n ochi,pe Brunette, decana pisicilor fr stpnde pe colina parlamentar, plecat de-a pururi

nainte de Srbtori: lng buchetul de floriagat pe gardul adpostului pentru pisicin jurul cruia 18 ani i-a tors libertatea,cineva i-a dedicat un panou de aducere amintei pe el flutur, lng propria-i poz, steagul Canadei.

Lumea e mare e mic e bun i rea.Cumpna dintre ani e de aur de hrtie de tinichea

right after escaping from the placenta.I put on the list of the great beautieswho crossed my way, looking in my eyes,Brunette the doyenne of the stray cats

from Parliament Hill, gone for everbefore the Holidays; close to the bunch of flowershung on the fence of the cats shelteraround which she had purred her freedom for 18 years,someone had dedicated her a poster in remembranceand on it, besides her picture, floats Canadas flag.

The world is large is small is good and mean.The bridge between the years is of gold of paper of tin.


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Afiniti elective

Pe-aici spaiile verzi te ateapt cu ndemnul bilingvAdopt a park / Adoptez un parc

eu m-am legat temeinic i fr scparede Parcul Strathcona cu fntna luicare tocmai i-a serbat centenaruli de la care poi pleca pe jos, pebiciclet,

pe schiuri sau pe rotile, pn la 1000 de insuleori pn n portul montrealez

de-aici, ca din labirintul primei copilrii,am ieire nengrdit spre lumeaa cum ieeam acas din livad n pdurea de-alturipe trmul primit zilnic motenire din crii de-acolo, pe ru, n jos, sau n sus,la schit, s decodific febril mesajele tot mai sofisticate

pe care mi le lsa, sub catapeteasm, din cnd n cnd,Michidusau dimpotriv, s decolez de pe catargul monumentului

Elective Affinities

Here the green meets you with the bilingual incentiveAdopt a park/Adoptez un parc

I have become strongly and with no escape attachedto Strathcona Park with its fountainthat has recently celebrated its centenaryand from which you can leave on foot by bike

on ski or on skateboard for the 1000 islandsor to Montreals port

from here, like from my early childhoods labyrinth,I have a boundless exit into the worldthe way at home I used to go from the orchard to theneighbouring woodson the realm daily inherited from booksand from there, downstream or upstream,

to the hermitage, to feverishly decode the more and moresophisticated messageswhich the little imp used to leave for me, from time to time,


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stalinist,din piscul crrii lui Creang, ctre ochiul bulboanei,ieind clare pe mturoi, n rochii de amazoan,din ntunericul hd i neputicios pentru a poposi, peste

deal,n locul din care plecasem, cu prada de care n-avea nimeninevoie,mpltoat i-nciupercatde-atta imaginaie

i-am dat trcoale acestui parc vreo cteva verii l-am adoptat apoi pentru totdeaunafr s-mi pese de gura lumiitiind bine c el m luase n grij doar temporarasemeni mtuii din satul vecin nainte de a m duce lacoal la plecare, plngndu-i n brae, am jurat,n sinea mea, c mi-o alesesem de mampentru cnd aveam s fiu mare, fr s tiu pe atuncic sora ei mult mai tnr avea s ne lase orfani ntr-otoamn,

nainte ca eu s fi ieit din adolesceni nici c aceast dorin trufa,de care niciuna dintre ele de fapt nu aflase vreodat

under the altar screen,or on the contrary, to take off from the mast of the Stalinistmonumentfrom the peak of Creangs path, to the eye of the vortex,

to go out riding a broomstick, dressed like an Amazon,from the ugly and helpless darkness in order to halt, overthe hill,on the spot I had left from, with the booty nobody needed,armour-clad and mushroom-like of so much imagination.

I had walked around this park for some summersand then adopted it for evernot caring for what others might sayknowing well that it had looked after me just for a whilelike my aunt from the neighbouring village before I went toschool at my departure, weeping in her arms, I had swornto myself that I choose her as a motherfor the time I grow up, not knowing theneither that her much younger sister would leave usorphaned an autumn

before I left behind my teensor that thishaughty wishwhich none of them ever learned about


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avea s-mi atrne de gt ca o piatr de moarpn-n ziua de azi.

would hang from my neck like a millstoneup to this very day.


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Echilibru de inukuk

Cu pietrele ptrate de sub podul Hurdmancineva a ridicat de ieri pn azi un inukuk geamn cu toi aceiape care-i vzusem pe brourii pe ilustratele din muzeecu mult nainte de a m adpostintr-o sear fumegnd de iunie

n Nordul ndeprtat pe colina din Tuktoyaktukn aureola unghiului protectordintre braele naripate perfect paralelecu linia cerului gata de duci cu picioarele solid fixate pe solale ntemeietorului neamului lor

m-am oprit s-i mulumesc c-mi apruse n calel-am mbiat cu apa din sticla pe care-o umplusem

la izvorul din Parcul Guvernatoareipodul slta deschizndu-se pe mijloc spre cerurifcnd loc unor iahturi de lux

Inukshuk Equilibrium

With the rectangular stones from under Hurdman Bridgesince yesterday till today someone has raisedan Inukshuk, sibling to all thoseI had seen in brochuresand on picture postcards from museumslong before I took shelterone smoky June evening

in the Far North on Tuktoyaktuk hillin the halo of the protecting anglein-between the winged arms perfectly parallelwith the sky line ready to leaveand with the legs of their nations foundersolidly fixed on the ground

I stopped to thank him for having showed up in my wayI offered him water from the bottle I had filled

at the well in the GovernessParkthe bridge was bouncing rising at its middle towards theskies


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n susul i-n josul pruluidin ele ne priveau nenumrate ocheanen cutare de fapte diversentre mine i simbolul de piatr

se esuse deja o dragoste cu totul i cu totul aparteca ntre dou fiine care cnt mpreun muzic gospel ntr-un lca pndit ndeaproapede colii grohitori ai vreunui flmndAntichrist

giving way to some luxury yachtsdownstream and upstreamfrom them countless binoculars were watching uslooking for news items

between me and the stone symbolalready woven a love story completely differentlike the one between two beings singing together gospelmusicin a church closely watchedby the grunting fangs of a hungry Antichrist.


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n laul luminii de var

Pericol de circdulce i tainicdiavolul nsuiacrobat desprins de plutoni potrivete cu elegan grumazuln laul luminii de varnflcrnd deopotrivprivirile subpmntenei vrtejul celest

din coarnele lui izbucneteo aprig simfonie deasupra orauluidin tlpile lui coboar-n adncurio pereche sobr de lebedestau de vorb cu elen gnd la distan

tiu c-am nvinsle alint n graiul buniciii ele alunec nfricotor de frumoase

In the Noose of Summer Light

Circus-like dangersweet and mysteriousthe devil himselfan acrobat detached from the troopfixes elegantly his neckin the noose of summer lightsetting fire to boththe underground glancesand the celestial whirl

an ardent symphony poursfrom his horns over the citya pair of sober swansdescend from his soles into the depthsI talk to them in my mind from afar

I know I have won,I tell them tender wordsin my grandmother's idiom


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spre mal pe Canalul Rideaus-mi mnnce din palm.

Iunie 2009

and they slide fearfully beautifultowards the bank of the Rideau Canalto feed from my palm.

June 2009


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ntlniri la Muzeul Civilizaiilor

O flacr nenfricatcoboar scrile din faa muzeuluin timp ce un val nspimntat de moartele urc

pe pajite, la doi pai,Personajelelui Archambault

m strig pe nume, mi fac reverene,alb i filiformuna dintre statui se desprinde de grupm ia de mn, m alint optit

cu vorbele mamei, cu vocea bunicii,cu dragostea ntregului ir de femeidin familia noastrcare-au adus din greeal pe lume

cte-un spirit rebel

Meetings at the Museum of Civilizations

A fearless flamedescends the stairs in front of the museumwhile a frightened to death waveclimbs them

on the green, close by,Archambaults People

are calling me by my name, are curtseying to me,white and filiformone of the statues separates from the grouptakes me by the hand, whispers endearments

with my mothers words, with my grandmothers voice,with the love of the whole succession of womenfrom our familywho gave birth by mistake

from time to time to a rebel spirit


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n-a czut pictur de ploaiei pe malul multicolorn acelai roi de albineanii din urm i cei pe care-i mai am de trit

zumzie n jurul unei minuscule corbii de lemnscpat ca prin minune din maxilarul tornadein stratul cu lalele n plin Festival

no drop of rain had fallenand on the multicoloured river bankin the same swarm of beesthe latest years and the one I have still to live

are buzzing around a tiny wooden shipthat had miraculously escaped from the jaws of the tornadoin the plot with tulips right in the middle of the Festival


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Leciile Turului Nordic

I.Pe-o cruce minuscul, undeva,la ieirea din Yellowknifepe drumul spre Resolute Bay(adic la captul lumiipentru toate neamurile mele de snge)din ntmplare silabisescnumele celui fr speran iubitntr-o adolescen amar

flori mpietriteartificii meschinecabale i prevestirise-nghesuie-n sistolei se topesc n diastole

o, Doamne, ieri m rugam

s-mi gsesc pe pmnt jumtateaazi tropi necredincioasntr-o coinciden de vodevil

Lessons of the Northern Tour

I.Somewhere, on a minuscule cross,at the exit from Yellowknifeon the road to Resolute Bay(in other words the end of the worldfor all my blood relations)I happen to syllabicatethe name of the one whom I had loved hopelesslyduring a bitter adolescence

petrified flowersmean artificescabals and premonitionsare crowding in systolesand are melting in diastoles

O, Lord, yesterday I was praying

to find my mate on earthtoday I trample faithlessin a vaudeville-like coincidence


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n trecere prin acest loc deprtatcare n-are nimic de-a facecu suferina mea de pe vremuri

ci doar cu faptul c satulglobalnu-i o metafori c oasele emigranilorchiar stau la temelia Canadeisimt cum se ese n juro sear ndantelatasemenea serilor de cenaclun care tandreea literar a iubitului interzisspla n vzul lumii cu lacrimi de ngeri tampona grijuliu cu leacuri vrjiterdcina cornielormele de drac

II.ghea verde cerul n palmritm fr timpnetiute delicii detalii de cimitir

ct o scandaloas istorieharpoane pierdutejucrii din crp i oase

just passing through this faraway placethat has nothing to dowith my remote suffering

except the fact that the global villageis not just a metaphorand that the immigrants bonesare actually lying at Canadas foundationI feel how a lacy nightis woven around meresembling the nights at the literary clubwhere the forbidden lovers literary tendernesshad been washing with angels tearsand was carefully plugging with bewitched remediesthe root of my small devil-horns

II.green ice the sky in my palmtimeless rhythmunknown delights graveyard details

as much as a scandalous storylost harpoonsrag toys and bones


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spre rmul Oceanului

vetedul sim alproprietiin ochii octogenarei dintr-un trib inuit

care a nvins toate schimbriletrind din artizanat, dansnd pe piele de focfa n fa cu sarcasmul elveianmodern diplomatic i hd

III.drumul spre nicieriare i o plcu indicatoare n acest sens(chiar aa The Street to Nowhere)asaltat de pixeli de glume de fotografi amatori

pmntul metalicaur sterp echinociul polarvntori i pescarintr-un desen simplu ntr-un dialect complicat

de la un hangar la altul

apte zile n Turul Nordicntr-un avion cu pasageri eleganialei pe sprncean

towards the Ocean shore

the withered sense of propertyin the eyes of the Inuit woman in her eighties

who had overcome all the changessurviving on craftsmanship, dancing on sealskinface to face with modern Swiss sarcasmdiplomatic and ugly

III.the road to nowherehas a sign in this sense(exactly this The Street to Nowhere)assaulted by pixels of jokes by amateur photographers

the metallic soilsterile gold the polar equinoxhunters and fishersin a simple drawing in a complicated dialect

from one hangar to another

seven days in the North Tourin a plane with elegant passengerschosen from among the best


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Pastel estival pe Canalul Rideau

ncleiate de-o iarn prea lungoasele mele s-au tot pregtitde vineri pn duminics nvee un dans nepereches pluteasc lacom puse pe giumbulucurin cristelnia strii poetice

o parte din mine orcieprecum ncii la poarta pe care urmeazs-i nfrunte propria soartcealalt parte ncearc rochii de galinute de floretist costume de soldat la parad

dis-de-diminea pe podul Saint Nicolasam gsit un stilounou-nou i sofisticat

din cele la care visasemcteva decenii la rnd ntr-o alt existen a mea

Summer Watercolor on Rideau Canal

Glued together after a too long wintermy bones kept preparingfrom Friday till Sundayto learn an exceptional danceto float greedily ready to frolicin the font of the poetic mood

a part of myself squeals like babiesat the gate through whichthey are going to face their fatethe other part tries on evening dressesfencing attires a soldiers parade uniform

early in the morning on Saint Nicholas BridgeI had found a fountain-penbrand new and sophisticated

one of those I had been dreaming ofduring decades in another existence


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mai trziu, descul, am tiat de una singur valulclcnd pe lichenii alunecoispre masa fixat de-un cinefil ndrznechiar n mijlocul rului

n locul din care se formeaz o mini-cascad

pe mas m ateptau fixate n pionezedou file catifelateasemeni braelor celui din urm iubitm-am lsat ademenit de elefr ruine m-am mpcatcu aceast simpl form de fericirei mi-am adus aminte de pisoiul adormit n ceardac

n curtea alor mei de la ar,cu gtul prins n ghemul pe care-l smotocise ceasuri larndn ziua n care tocmai mi ngropasem fratele geamn

am zbovit ndelung ntins cu faa spre cerpe masa de lemn strjuit de dou lavie paralelesimeam rul lumii curgnd

nestvilit i neputincios pe submine n sunetul apeiauzeam vocile bucuroase din parcul Strathconahrnind psretul

later on, barefoot, all alone I confronted a wavetreading on the slippery lichenstowards the table a daring film fan had fixedright in the middle of the river

in the place where a mini-waterfall arises

on a table fixed with thumbtackstwo velvety sheetslike my last lovers armsI let myself lured by themshamelessly reconciledwith this simple form of happinessand I remembered the kitten asleep on the porch

in my familys farmyard,with its neck caught in the wool ball it had played with forhoursthe very day when I had buried my twin brother

for quite a while I lingered laying with my face to the skyon a wooden table guarded by two parallel benchesfeeling the worlds evil flowing under me

unleashed and powerless in the sound of the waterI heard cheerful voices from Strathcona Parkfeeding the birds


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la plecare sub una din lavie am zrittrei argini inexplicabil lipiipe piatra lucitoare ca pe ochiul ispitei

i-am strecurat repede n buzunarfr s m ntreb dac sunt semn de norocsau preul vreunei trdri

am trecut mult mai uor de partea cealaltcurentul se ndulcisetlpile mele nu mai alunecaupe mtasea din firele creia la doi paise isca vrtejul melodios

ntmpltoare mi se preautoate micile semneprescrise parc de povetile lui Gellu Naummarile lor nelesuri

at my departure under one of the benches I sawthree silver coins inexplicably stickingto the glittering stone as if on temptations eye

I let them slide quickly into my pocketwithout asking myself whether they were a sign of luckor the price of some treason

I passed more easily to the other sidethe current had become mildermy soles werent slipping anymoreon the silk from whose threads a few steps awaythe melodious whirl was issuing

all the little signsseemed to me fortuitousas if prescribed by Gellu Naums talestheir great meanings


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nchipuindu-i neodihnit i nenfrnatc ele o s-mi ias odat i-odat n caleatunci cnd voi fi ajuns s m bucur de drumulpe care alesesem s m ndeprtez ct mai mult

de aceast poveste rural

la asfinit, la doi pai de cas, pe ulia strmtcare unete strada Laurier cu Augustaasemntoare pn-n ultimul amnuntcu scurttura care tia drumul ntre coal i magazini pe care-o luau btrnele la nmormntriieind naintea cortegiuluichiar la colul final dinspre cimitir

pe gardul din cercevele de-o parte i altacineva ntinsese snopul de cnep,sub tufa de liliac degetele unui heruvim se pregteaus trag din caier pe fusul viitorului meufirul ntreg i nicicnd rnit de nodul att de durerosla care-l condamnase mnia bunicii materne

restlessly and ceaselessly imaginingthat some day they would show up in my waythen when I should have reached a state to enjoy the roadI had chosen to depart on more and more

from this rural story

at sunset, not far from home, on the narrow lanethat unites Laurier Street and Augustaresembling in every detailthe shortcut on the way between the school and the shopon which the old women used to go to funeralscoming out in front of the processionexactly at the last corner before the churchyard

on the fence made of window frames on both sidessomeone spread out the hemp sheaf,under the lilac bush a cherubs fingers preparedto draw out from the bundle and set on my futures spindlethe intact thread un-injured by the so painful knotto which it had been condemned by my maternalgrandmothers anger


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Elena tefoi


Reportaj n preerii

Spre grania de nord-vest a Canadei,ntr-un fel de Brgan din care rsar,din jumtate n jumtate de ceas,n drumul mainii, cte-o cas mrunti cte-un hambar burduhosadic o ferm nsemnat pe hart ca un ora

pierdut pe-o colin nspre Kayville,o troi romneasc vegheazpeste vreo dou duzini de morminte(localnicii i spun cimitirul cel vechi)pe fiecare lespede nc se vedeo urm din Bucovina

m duc la centenarul unei bisericiridicat de-ai notri, n vale, la adpost,

unde azi au venit s-i pomeneasc strmoiicanadieni din ntregul Saskatchewandei n preajm nu locuiete nimeni de fapt

Reporting from the Prairies

Towards Canadas north-western borderin a kind of vast plain like Brgan, from which,at each half hour a small houseand a paunchy barnshow up in front of the carthats a farmstead marked on the map like a town

lost on a hill towards Kayville,a Romanian wayside cross keeps vigilover about two dozen graves(the local people call it the old churchyard)on each slab there is still visiblea vestige from Bucovina

I am going to a the centennial of a churchour people had raised, down the valley, sheltered,

where today they have come to pray for their ancestorsCanadians from all over Saskatchewanthough actually nobody lives nearby


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Elena tefoi


(prima aezare e la zeci de kilometri distan,aici a rmas doar lcaul i sala de-alturifolosit din cnd n cnd pentru baluri i parastase)

parcarea e nesat, zumzetul pios al ceremonieitmiaz treptele la intrarentre pronaos i altarul pictat ca acaspesc plrii elegante de doamnedesprinse din scene de bal vienezalturi de ii i catrinede jeani i tricouride inute modeste de fermieride paiete gablonzuri i diamante

un nepot de rutean face slujba de liturghiedup o carte tiprit n romn-englezsilabisete buchea ntemeietorilor ortodocicrora li se aduce prinosla fel de greu cum buchiseau fr ndoial acetia,la sosirea pe pmntul fgduinei,silabele jumtii celeilalte de pagin

aici i acum mi e foarte uor s-mi nchipuitot irul celor din neamul meu

(the first settlement is tens of kilometers away,here only the church and the neighbouring hallused at times for balls or funeral repasts have remained)

the parking lot is crowded, the pious buzz of the ceremonycovers the entrance stairs in incensebetween the narthex and the homely painted altarelegant ladies hats paradeissuing from scenes of Viennese ballsbeside embroidered peasant blouses and apronsjeans and T shirtsmodest farmer suitsspangles cheap jewelry and diamonds

a Ruthenians grandson celebrates the liturgyaccording to a book printed in Romanian-Englishsyllabicates the words of the orthodox foundersto whom they pay homagewho beyond doubt had read with the same difficulty,at their arrival on the land of promise,the syllables on the other half of the page

now and here its very easy for me to imaginethe whole sequence of those of my people


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Elena tefoi


care nu i-au prsit nicicnd ara natalfiecare ncercnd s se descurce pe lumea cealalt,ntre strini, nvnd srguinciosgramatica Turnului Babel,

indicatoarele attor autostrzi fr margini,motorul de cutare al cerescului Internet,regulile vieii de emigrantcare ia totul curajos de la captacolo, n rai sau n iad,trimind alor si semne doar la Crciun i la Pati,hotrnd zilnic c odat i-odat se va ntoarce.

Regina, Iunie 2008

who had never left their native countryeach of them trying to manage in the other world,among strangers, learning eagerlythe Tower of Babels grammar,

the road signs of the so many endless highwaysthe search engine of the celestial Internet,the rules of the emigrants lifewho start everything courageously anewthere, in heaven or hell,sending their family signs only at Christmas and Easter,each day deciding that once and for ever they will return.

Regina, June 2008

El f i


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Elena tefoi


Toamn canadian

Nori luminoi frunzi mieriurou din verde aur topitpasul meu printre neamuri nomadetrecnd peste poduri podeepasarele i puni de la ru la prupe la toate ecluzele i pe la cascadeprin toate formele de trziudeloc obosit

culori elixiruri amprente divinebalsam din apus pnla rsritearf-n volute podoab pe drumde care se-aga lumea din minefr s tie de ce nu mai etis-o vrei tocat s-o tragi pe roatcu nelesul fostei poveti

altfel nicicum

Canadian Autumn

Luminous clouds honey-like foliagered from green play of melt goldmy step among nomad peopleover bridges paths and footbridgesgang planks and passagesfrom creeks to rivers to brooksat every lock at each waterfallthrough all forms of latenessnot tired at all

colors elixirs divine imprintsbalm from the western side to the eastscrolled sash adornment on the roadto which my inner world clingswithout knowing yet without askingwhy you arent around anymorewishing it sliced up and minced

on the wheel broken day after daywith the meaning of the old storyotherwise, no way

El f i


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Elena tefoi


Zi de septembrie

Rubinie lumin de asfinitmuzici i expresii extaticepe aleile de pe Dealul Majorcluza Ashininabese-aga de tineree pe socluatent doar la programul eide genuflexiuni i alte exerciii istorice

m opresc n grdina japonez Zende lng Muzeul Civilizaiilori dintr-odat mna Celui de Susrstoarn ghidu peste mineun butoi cu miere imens i strlucitor

m scald n ngduina solstiiului

din cap pn-n picioarede la piele pn-n mduva oaselorse ordoneaz fiina mea toat

September Day

Ruby sunset lightmusic and ecstatic expressionson the alleys of Major HillAnishinabe the guideclings to youth on the pedestalpaying attention only to her scheduleof genuflexions and other historical exercises

I stop at the Japanese Zen gardennear the Museum of Civilizationsand all at once the Lords handplayfully overturns upon mean immense and sparkling barrel of honey

I bathe in the lenience of the solstice

from head to toefrom my skin to the marrow of my bonesmy entire being sets itself into order

El t f i


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Elena tefoi


asemeni unui binecuvntat portativpe care se va aterne n curndcapodopera

like a blessed scoreon which soon a masterpiecewill be written

El t f i


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Elena tefoi


Aniversare la Ottawa

nc din zoribubuie o fanfarn fiecare oglind din cassunt singur cu gndulc-am ctigat un rzboin care n-a fi vrut s fiu partenu tiu de ce pentru cine

nimeni din familia noastrn-a trecut acest pragtrei dintre cei mai buni prietenicu care plecasem la drumau evitat s-l nfrunteun poet care-a vrut s m-adoptei un altul care s-a oferit s-mi fie frate de cruces-au ascuns cu un pas mai devreme

chiar i singurul brbat de pe lumeconvins c-l voi iubi toat viaaa plecat tiptil ntr-o noapte

Anniversary in Ottawa

Since early dawna brass band has been boomingfrom every mirror in the houseI am alone with the thoughtthat I have won a warin which I did not want to be a partdont know why for whom

no one in our familyhas passed this thresholdthree of my best friendswith whom I had taken to the roadavoided confronting it a poet who had wanted to adopt meand another who had offeredto become my sworn brother

hid just a step beforeeven the only man in the worldconvinced that I would love him forever

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


nainte de-a mplini 55

drapat n hlamida unui pomelnic

strlucesc ntr-un ora n care nu m-a chematnc nimeni nicicnd la prohodparc m-a vedea perornd la televizorpe-o planet strin pentru ochii furnicilorvie pentru tot irul celor prea dragidemult pe-o alt planet conduila locul din urm

pe luciul oglinzii m nconjoar ocrotitor

chipurile lor unite n hor cum n-au fost niciodatncununate de gloria acestei victoriila care i-au adus toi la un loci fiecare n parte obolul.

Iulie 2009

left stealthily one nightbefore he turned 55

draped in the mantle of a rigmarole

I sparkle in a city where no onehas invited me to a funeral yetits as if I saw myself uttering a speech on TVon an alien planet for the eyes of antsalive for the succession of all loved onesand long ago led to another planetto their last habitat

on the glitter of the mirror surrounding me protectively

their faces united in a round dance as they had never beencrowned with the glory of this victoryto which all of them together and each of them aparthad brought their own contribution.

July 2009

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


Fapte diverse, ciocniri de sistem

Un pui de balen a fost agatde o ambarcaiune de croaziervenind din Alaskai-a dat duhul sngernd n nvoadesub ochii revoltai ai turitilor de pe puntei i-a nsoit, astfel, pn ce vasul a tras la debarcader

asaltai de blitz-uri, reportofoane,camere de filmat i interes denatdin partea experilor de tot feluloamenii i-au mrturisit imensa tristeepentru aceast tragedie nemaivzutaa cum fcuse de fapt, cu o lun n urm,pe toate televizoarele, i perechea afgan,deplngnd convingtor un accident de main

care lsase patru victime n canalul din Kingston dei s-a dovedit ntre timp c familia nsi, i necase cu snge rece, ntr-un Nissan nou-nou,

Random News, Collisions of System

A baby whale that had been tiedto a cruise boatcoming from Alaskapassed away bleeding in the netsunder the shocked eyes of the tourists on deckand it accompanied them thus till the boat reached thedocks

assaulted by flashguns and reporters recorderscameras and the improper interestof all kinds of expertsthese people expressed their immense sadnessfor this never before seen tragedy;the same way, a month before, on all TV stationsan Afghan couple hadconvincingly deplored the car accident

that had left four victims in the Kingston canalthough in the meantime it had been proven that thefamily itself

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


cele trei fete rebele mpreun cu femeiacare avea grij de elei care n-apucase s divoreze vreodatde capul ndoliatei familii

n pomelnicul verii, pe micul ecran,balena albastr imatur i incapabils se descurce n traficul din Oceani adolescentele care nu voiau s poarte vl musulman,dei tatl lor (cu douneveste distribuite demultn dou roluri utile sub acelai acoperi)le-ameninase cu moartea,

i unesc vocile acuznd ciocnirea civilizaiilordin Vancouver pn-n deprtatul Kabul.

had drowned in cold blood, in a brand new Nissan,their three rebel daughters together with the womanwho was looking after themand who had never had the chance to divorce

the head of the mourning family

in summers summary, on the box,the blue whale, immature and incapableof finding its way in Ocean trafficand the teenagers who didnt want to wear the Muslim veilthough their father (with two wives cast a long time beforeto play two useful roles under the same roof)had threatened them with death,

joined their voices accusing the clash of civilizationsfrom Vancouver to the faraway Kabul.

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


ntre dou canale

Am crescut trgnd cu urechea la povetile despre canaladic despre teroare, munc silnic, suferin,victime i cli, nimicnicie i eroism, mutilrii oroare, dispariie i trdri. Generaia bunicilor notritrise decenii la rnd cu spaima acestui cuvnt, fiecare adulttremurnd c vreo goril strin i vabate ntr-o noapte la uca s-l trimit s sape n stnc, alturi de ali condamnai.Prinii vorbeau mult dar n oapt despre vremea aceea,

iar copiii crora le-am fost fr voia mea profesoarn-aveau voie s pun-ntrebri despre ce-a fost la canal,dei nu preau c au traume de pzit. Ct despre mine,ca s m pot lecui, a trebuit s descopr canalul Rideau,aproape la btrnee, ntr-o zi trzie de toamn,mult dup ce scpasem, din ntmplare, cobai norocos,din flcile odioasei istorii. A fost un saltntr-un loc cu lumin, loc cu verdea, sinonim

cu micarea perpetu, cu bucuria de via,cu celestele muzici, cu pacea care alin gazd de croaziere, scen pentru concerte,

Between Two Canals

I grew up eavesdropping on stories about the canalthat is about terror, forced labour, suffering,victims and executioners, vanity and heroism, mutilationsand horror, disappearance and treason.Our grandparents generationhad lived for decades on end with a fear of this word, eachadulttrembling that some foreign gorilla

would knock on their door one nightto send them to dig rock, together with other convicts.Our parents were talking a lot but in a whisper about thattimeand the children whose teacher I had been unwillinglywere not allowed to ask questions about what had happenedat the canalthough they didnt seem to have traumas to guard. As for

myself,to be able to heal, I had to discover the Rideau canal,when almost old, on a late autumn day,

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


sal pentru licitaii n scop caritabil, concursuri, baluri,proiecii istorice. Fiine de toate vrstele, culorile, rasele,alearg pe marginea lui sau pe pojghia gheiinduind fericit spre propriile lor orizonturi

pe patine, pe rotile, pe schiuri, pe biciclete, n landouri, n les.N-am pe nimeni alturi cu care s-mprtescdiferena de triri i cunoatere, dar tiu de pe-acumc-n ziua n care mi va fi dat s-mi aez perna de vecipeste oasele celor nspimntai de canalul din Brgan,partea cea bun din mine se va ntoarce la Ottawa,mcar pentr-un ceas, s zburde, cu ochii n soare,mpcat cu toi i cu toate, de-a lungul canalului.

long after I had escaped, by chance, a lucky guinea pig,from the jaws of odious history. It had been a leapinto a luminous place, a place with greenery, synonymouswith perpetual motion, with the joy of life,

with celestial music, with soothing peace host of cruises, stage for concerts,hall for charitable auctions, contests, balls,historical projections. People of all ages, colours, races,are running along its embankments or on the crust of icehappily sweating towards their own horizonson skates, on rollers, on bicycles, in prams, on a leash.Theres no one near me with whom to sharethe difference of feelings and knowledge but I already know

that the day destined for me to lay my pillow for everover the bones of those horrified by the canal from Brgan,the best part of me will return to Ottawa,at least for an hour, to run with my eyes in the sun,at peace with all and everything, along the canal.

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


Pe un singur bilet

n ptratul albastrude lng fntna Strathconafraii mei care n-au tiut niciodatcum e s te zbengui ntr-un bazin de notse alearg unul pe altul, doi precolari slbnoginconjurai de tot felul de odrasle multicolore

pe margine se amestec graiuri i dialecte

mama se odihnete pe-o bncu de lemn,cu faa la nitoare, palid i atentla jocul bieilor ei,pe dig, nclat n cizme de cauciucaa cum pleca i venea de la cmp tata hrnete stolul de rae(am citit undeva c aceste psri triesc

numai n cuplu i nu se despart niciodat,e drept c pe apele de la Ottawan-am vzut dect rae perechi

On a Single Ticket

In the blue squarenear Strathcona fountain,my brothers who had never knownhow it is to have fun in a swimming poolare chasing each other, two slim pre-school kidssurrounded by all kinds of many-coloured children

dialects and vernaculars mingle on the margin

mother rests on a wooden bench,facing the fountain, pale and attentiveat her sons game,on the embankment, wearing rubber bootsas he used to leave and return from the fields father feeds the flock of ducks(Ive read somewhere that these birds live

only in couples and never part,and its true that in the waters at OttawaI have seen only pairs of loons

Elena tefoi


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Elena tefoi


urmndu-se una pe alta sau lunecndn linie dreapt, cu aceeai vitez,dei, cnd vin la mal, se amestec neselectivcu alte familii i specii)

de-a lungul rului, n sus i n jos,vslete sufletul meu, de strajacestui col de pmnt

trebuie s-i in aproape pe toi ai meiieri unul dintre ei culegea suntoarepe malul dinspre Vanier, de unde se vedebiserica Sfntul Petru i Pavel

ca de pe dealul de-acas,al doilea venea cu un pete mare n braede sub podul Saint Nicholas cum altdatdin rul Moldovei,cel de-al treilea se legna n scrnciobulde la ieirea spre strada Range,lundu-i prea mare avntcum de-attea ori l vzusem n spatele curii

i m temeam c-o s cad,iar ultimul plecat urmrea ncprin tufiul dintre Hurdmann i gar

following each other or glidingin a straight line, at the same speed,though, when coming to the bank, they mingle unselectivelywith other families and species)

along the river, up and down,my soul is rowing, on guardfor this corner of the world

I have to keep close all my beloved onesyesterday one of them was picking all-saints-worton the Vanier bank from where one can seeSt. Peter and Paul church

like from the hill at home,the second was coming from under Saint Nicholas Bridgeholding a big fish the same as oncefrom Moldova river,the third was rocking on a swingat the exit to Range Street,taking too much impetusthe way Id seen him so many times in the back yard

and was afraid he might fall,and the last gone was still watchingin the bushes between Hurdsman and the railway station

Elena tefoi


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e a te o


o cprioar care ne tiase caleala poala pdurii, n urm cu jumtate de veac

ast noapte, printre tunete,

nlndu-se la geam din ropotul ploii,dar i din receptorul nemicat de pe noptiero voce atotputernic m-a ntrebatct vreme cred euc vom mai putea totui trece Oceanultoi cinci cu acelai bilet de cltorie

a deer who had crossed our pathat the edge of the woods, half a century ago

tonight, among thunders,

rising at the window from the patter of rain,but also from the still receiver on the night tablea powerful voice has asked mefor how long I thinkwe could still cross the Oceanall five of us on a single ticket

Elena tefoi


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Pe strada Wilbrod, ntr-o smbt dimineaa

Aici, n casa aceasta care nu-mi aparinei despre care se spune c-a fost o capel,m-am mutat pentru patru ani, ca la internat,crnd dup mine bagajul unui necredincioscare-i dorea cu disperare s-nvie

abia la nceputul ultimei vericnd m pregteam sufletete

s-o las urmtorului ei locatarm-am trezit ntr-o smbt dimineaavorbind cu scnteuele clopoeiilcrmioarele i colunaii de sub fereastraceleai flori din grdinape care-am deschis de fapt ochiiodat cu dezgheul poststalinisti pe care vzul meu nu le bgase n seam

nicicnd niciunde din clipacnd srisem sprinten n cru s plecla internatul liceului

On Wilbrod Street, One Saturday Morning

Here, in this house I do not ownand about which they say had been a chapel,I moved in for four years, as in a hostel,carrying with me the luggage of a nonbelieverwho wanted desperately to resurrect

only at the beginning of the last summerwhen I was preparingin my mind

to leave it to its next tenantI woke up one Saturday morningtalking to the pimpernels bluebellswood lilies and violets from under my windowthe same flowers as in the gardenupon which I had actually opened my eyesat the same time with the post-Stalinist thawand whom my sight hasnt noticed

ever and anywhere since thenwhen Id jumped nimbly in the cart to leavefor the boarding house of the high school


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pentru mutarea definitivi am nceput s vorbesccu scnteuele clopoeii lcrmioarele colunaii nu i-a fcut niciodat timp s mi treac

pe nepregtite i de-

adevratelea pragul.

for my final moveand had begun to talkto the pimpernels bluebells wood lilies and violets she had never taken the time to crossunexpectedly, really, my threshold.


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Elena tefoi


53/82


la fntna salutat din pant, pe Rangede steagurile unor naii strvechi

la asfinit mi venea s ngenunchezpe treptele dinspre Laurierca n altarul de cununierecunosctoare i fr de spaimgata s-mi asum ntreaga istoriepn la moarte

to the fountain greeted from the slope, on Rangeby the flags of some ancient nations

at sunset I felt like kneelingon the stairs on the Laurier sidelike in front of a wedding altargrateful and fearlessready to assume entire historytill death

Elena tefoi

f h f b l i l i b l ll l


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Primvar trzie

mi aud numelestrigat pe cellalt maln cor de ntreaga familieunit ca la vreme de doliudar sufletul meuopie nerbdtorspre lumina zilein placenta canadian

i mintea mea chefuiete ncn amintirea ultimului amurgn culorile lui denatecare-i cnt la harpsub aternuturi

Martie 2009

Late Spring

I hear my nameshouted from the other bankin chorus by the whole familyunited like in times of mourningbut my souljumps impatientlytowards the daylightin its Canadian placenta

and my mind still feastsin the memory of the last sunsetin its vivid coloursthat play the harp for itunder my bed layers

March 2009


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Elena tefoi

A G f h T f B b l G i T l i B b l P ll l T 53


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Tablou de duminic

Dup nopi i zile de ploaieam vzut c dispruse masa din mijlocul ruluipe care cu o sptmnn urmm rsfasem cu migdale i nucireuind s m desprind de trecut

am cobort n grab nelinititspre parcul Strathcona s vd ce i cum

spernd c cineva salvase totuidraga mea mas de lemn pe care m rugams-o gsesc primitoare i liberori de cte ori plecam s m-ncarc de lumin

m-am oprit n locul unde adeseami scoteam nclrile s intru n aps m-ndrept spre propriul meu paradis

lng mine netulburat o lebd neagrciugulea verdeaa mprosptat de ploaie(se vedea clar c are gusturi precise

Sunday Picture

After nights and days of rainI saw the table was missing from the middle of the riveron which just a week agoI feasted on almonds and nutssucceeding to detach myself from the past

I descended quickly uneasytowards Strathcona Park to see whatd happened

hoping that still someone had savedmy dear wooden table which I had prayedto find hospitable and freewhenever I went out to charge myself with light

I stopped at the spot where I had so oftentaken off my shoes to enter the waterto wend my way towards my personal paradise

close to me undisturbed a black swanwas pecking the greenery refreshed by the rain(it was quite visible that it had precise tastes


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Elena tefoi

A Grammar of the Tower of Babel Gramatica Turnului Babel Parallel Texts 60


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n jurul meu frumuseea i ajungea sie nseiasemeni mitralierelor conservatedin primul rzboi mondialn loc luminos n loc cu verdea,n-avea nici un gnd pentru victimei nici o plecciune pentru eroi

pe mal i n ap oameni i psricu tot felul de aripi armonicecu torele veniciei n glasuricu lampadare sub piele

nici un cimitir n raza privirii

aa cum avusesem amndoi la Cernican ziua aceea de august

te-am descoperit la un moment datn stnga, pe pajitednd trcoale cearafuluim-ai fixat cu speran dar nehotrtapoi mi-ai fcut o singur datsemne cu mna ca i cum ai fi salutatambarcaiunile de plceredin dreapta mea de pe lac

the beauty around me was self-sufficientlike the machine guns preservedfrom the first world warin a luminous place with greenery,it had no thought for the victimsand no bow for the heroes

on the shore and in the water people and birdswith all kinds of harmonious wingswith the torches of eternity in their voiceswith lantern under skin

no churchyard in view

like we had both of us at Cernicathat day in August

suddenly I discovered youon my left, on the lawncircling around my bath sheetyou eyed me with hope but irresolutethen waved once as if greetingthe pleasure boatson the lake on my rightI didnt answer, you came closer only an hour later

Elena tefoi

A Grammar of the Tower of Babel Gramatica Turnului Babel Parallel Texts 61


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nu i-am rspuns, te-ai apropiat abia peste-un ceassub un pretext oarecare grijuliu dar cumva ofensiv dintr-o singur ntrebare,nimic din ce-mi plcuse altdat nu puteam recunoatete-am rugat s m lai s m bucurde singurtate n acest loc n care vin rareori,te-ai ntors pe cearaful tutind fr mil stolul speriat de gte slbatice

m-am ridicat de pe piatr mult dup cedispruseipescruul i-a reluat locul ca la comandurma s m-nvluie acolo sub soarele zileiseara n care fusesem cu adevrat o pereche

i n care, aproape de miezul nopii,ne-a deteptat un cutremur puternicpe care nici unul din noi n-avea s-l uite vreodat

under some pretext careful but in a way offensive in a single question,I couldnt recognize anything from what Id once likedI asked you to let me enjoythe loneliness of this place where I seldom come,you returned to your bath sheetcutting mercilessly the scared flock of wild geese

I got off the stone a long time after you had disappearedthe kingfisher resumed its place as if on commandthere under the sunshine of the day expecting to envelop mewas the evening when we had been a couple

and when, close to midnight,we were awoken by a powerful earthquakethat neither of us was to ever forget

Elena tefoi



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Odat i-odat

O lume nou nepstoare n inut de galse duce de rp sear de searo alta grbovit i peticit,nc plin de vnti, mndr de ele,se-arunc n ring la prima or a dimineiicu gndul c vei veni odat i-odats-i aterni la picioare covorul rou,s-i aezi pe frunte coronia de-nvingtor

In the Long Run

An indifferent new world in gala dressgoes to the dogs each nightanother one bent backed and patched,still full of bruises, proud of them,throws itself on the rink at daybreakwith the thought that in the long run youll cometo spread under its feet the red carpet,to set on its brow the victors coronet

Elena tefoi



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n zare, pe calea ferat

A plouat toat ziua i toat noaptea.Un tren de marf a trecut ncolo i-ncoacede sute de ori de ieri pn azipeste povetile n care-am crezut mpreunntr-o alt via a noastrpe-o alt planet n criz.Le-a fcut zob, le-a adncit n pmnt, le-a nfundatn urechile viermilor. Nu mi-era dorde nici una din ele, nici de felul tu grijuliude a-mi aduce buchete de tufnele frumos colorate

cum aduci bomboane unui copil. n zarepe calea ferat, febril i gtitde balul Anului Nou, se aezase de-asear,de-a curmeziul, sub ploaia de toamn,suferina mea din ce n ce mai rupt de lume,din ce n ce mai mpcat cu sine.

In the Distance, on the Railroad

It has rained all day and all night.A freight train has passed back and forthhundreds of times since yesterdayover the tales in which we had believed in togetherin another life on another planet in crisis.It has crushed them, pushed them into the earth,stuffed them into the worms ears. I had longedfor neither of them, nor for your careful wayof bringing me bunches of nicely coloured chrysanthemums

like bringing candies to a child. In the distanceon the railroad, feverish and adornedfor a New Years ball, under the autumn rain,my anguish more and more torn from the world,more and more self-content.

Elena tefoi



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Recitiri

ntr-o zi ceoas n carear trebui s pot celebravindecarea demonizatuluidau din ntmplarepeste-o reflecie colateraldespre femeia adevrat(amestec de dulcea,amrciune, umor i destin)

sunt gata s m nchin acestei refleciiprecum restul poporuluila moatele Sfntului Dumitru cel Marentorcndu-i ochiul sarcastic dar orbde-attea lenevii agitatede la minunea pe care altcinevai-o tot nghesuie-n traistprivind ns c-un ochi hipercapabil s vad

s preuiasc s vnd la trguri globale

pe zacusc podoabe miere i vintot felul de dezbateri televizate

Rereadings

On a misty day on whichI should be able to celebratethe healing of the demonizedI have come by chanceupon a collateral reflectionabout the authentic woman(a mixture of sweetness,bitterness, humour and destiny)

I am ready to bow to this reflectionlike the rest of the peoplein front of the relics of Saint Dumitru the Greatturning away his sarcastic but blind eyedue to so many agitated forms of idlenessfrom the miracle which someone elsehad been pushing into his knapsackbut looking with an eye hyper-capable to seeto appreciate to sell at global fairson pickled fish trinkets and wineall kinds of televised debates

Elena tefoi



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despre cine i cum ar putea s-l salveze

nu mi-e dor de nimeni i de nimicnv zilnic cte ceva despre moartecum a nva nc o limb strin

Ottawa 24 octombrie 2009

about who and how it could save him

I dont yearn for anyone and anythinglearning each day something about deathas if learning a foreign language

Ottawa, 24 October 2009

Elena tefoi



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rn, cri i protocol

Zi dup zi din mori m scols-i dau dau sfritului ocoldin curtea mamei pe Wilbrodtot car i car acelai glodtlpi de Sisif bra de Irod

din zori boroi apus nerodse nate-n vastul episodla lumnare-i ntind pod

l-ntmpin i-i aduc obolcurajul spaimei cri i protocol

Earth, Books and Protocol

Day after day I rise from the deadto circle around my very endfrom mothers courtyard on Wilbrod Streetkeep carrying the same earth plotsoles of Sisyphus arm of Herod

big-bellied dawns and sunset crazedborn in the last episode wastebuilding a bridge in candle light

to wait and worship through the nightcourage from fear books and protocol

Elena tefoi



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Un nou nceput

Mcar poezia s aib nevoiede-aceast singurtate:rsritul i asfinitul aranjate bucipe masa de protocol,jurmintele tale despre care oaspeii meinu vor ti niciodat nimicmucnd precum erpii fantasticide sub ervetele dantelateprintre porelanuri i lumnri,

vechile mele spaimeplutind n culori specialepeste locul acesta din care lipsetii ridicndu-se fr remucare la cersub puterea unui toast cumpnit

A New Beginning

At least poetry should needthis solitude:sunrise and sunset arranged in pieceson the table of protocol,your vows about which my guestswould never know anythingbiting like fantastic serpentsfrom under laced napkinsamong chinaware and candles,

my former fearsfloat in special coloursover this place from which you are missingand remorselessly rise to heavenunder the power of a balanced toast

Elena tefoi



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Canadian Haiku

nc o zi

Singur de totMinunea nate prunci viin zori, din nimic

One Day More

Alone, on her own,Miracle gives living birthAt dawn, out of nothing

Trziu, pe tcute

Schimb-te, schimbVrtejul nepoleitCel de pe urm

Late, in Silence

Change yourself, changeThis undisguised tempest The very last one

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Eterna poveste

Poemul nescris,Ptima, carismaticAl meu Ft Frumos

Eternal Story

Poem never written,Passionate, charismatic My own Prince Charming

ntre noi pentru totdeauna

Spaima trdriiMitralier veche

Pe metereze

Forever between Us

Fearing betrayalAn antiquated machine gun

On the battlements

O singur amintire

Mi-ai cntat n somn

irul vieilor melePleca la rzboi

Only a Souvenir

You sang as I slept

The long column of my livesWent marching to war

Elena tefoi



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Despre noi doi

N-a fost s fie Ruginit, malignansa pierdut

About Us Two

It wasnt meant to be Rusted over and malign,The chance that slipped away

Frate i sor, ca noi

M-mbrbteaz

Cireii gemeni la geam Orfani nrodii

Brother and Sister, like Us

The twin cherry trees

At the window encourage me Fruitful orphans

Pe Canalul Rideau

Pe luciul apei

Talpa dumnezeiriiAprinde scntei

On Rideau Canal

On still, glassy water

The Deitys footfallsStrike fireworks


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Elena tefoi



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Despre trecerea timpului

Dintr-un secundarDin zori pn searaPicur snge

About Times Passing

From the second handFrom daybreak till eventideDrops of blood drip, drip

Od uitrii

Amintirea ta Numrtoare la zid

i glonirosit

Ode to Oblivion

My memory of you Threetwoone against the wall,

The squandered bullet

Primvar trzie

Infloresc teii

n ochii ciclonului Doar eu i apr

Late Spring

Lindens in blossom

In the eye of a cyclone I alone defend them

Elena tefoi



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Fr scpare

M ncercuieO lume de lepdat Vemnt de for

Nowhere to Run

An abandoned worldIs belted tight around me My straitjacket

Duminic n Parcul Maiorului

Se nalun zmeuDin mini de ndrgostii

ef peste ngeri

Sunday in Majors Park

A kite soars aboveFrom the hands of two lovers

Boss of the angels

Primvar la Ottawa

Mri de lalele

Babilon al culoriin plin Festival

Ottawa Spring

A sea of tulips

This Babylon of colorsAt Festival time

Elena tefoi



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De cnd m-ai trdat

n patul nostruA nchis ochii pe veciCapodopera

When You Betrayed Me

The true masterpieceHas forever closed its eyesIn our shared bed

La 1000 de insule

Stoluri flmndeSemnele crizei n jur

Copii n extaz

At 1000 Islands

Hungry flocks of birdsSigns of crisis everywhere

Ecstatic children

Tablou biografic

Totul e parteDintr-un ntreg imprecis

Sigur ca moartea

Biographical Tableau

Everything is part ofAn imprecise whole

As certain as death

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Informationabout the Poet

Poeta Elena tefois-a nscut la 19 iulie 1954, ntr-ofamilie de rani din Boroaia, judeul Suceava. A urmat liceul

n Flticeni, iar apoi Facultatea de Filosofie a Universitiidin Bucureti, ntre anii 1976 i 1980. i-a luat doctoratul nfilosofie la Universitatea Bucureti nanul 2005.

nainte de a intra la Universitate a lucrat trei ani camuncitoare la fabrica de conserve din Popeti-Leordeni. Arevenit n aceeai comun dup absolvire, ca profesoar. nanul 1987 a intrat corector la ziarul Contemporanul.

Dup anul 1989 a lucrat ca redactor pentru revistele

Contrapunct i Dilema. A colaborat la posturile de radioEuropa Liber i Radio France International.

The poet Elena tefoi was born in a peasant family inRomania, near Suceava, on 19 July 1954. She went to school in

Flticeni, and then studied Philosophy at Bucharest Universitybetween the years 1976 and 1980. She took her PhD inPhilosophy in 2005.

Before studying Philosophy she was a worker in a factoryfor three years. After graduation she taught in a village school.In 1987 she was hired as proofreader by the Romanianmagazine Contemporanul.

After the fall of comunism in 1989, she was editor of theRomanian magazines Contrapunctand Dilema. She also workedas correspondent for Radio Free Europe and Radio FranceInternationale.

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n anul 2000 a fost numit consul general al Romniei laMontreal. ntre anii 2005 i 2012 a fost ambasador alRomniei n Canada.

She was Consul Genreal in Montreal between 1999 and2000. Between 2005 and 20132 she was Romanias Ambassadorto Canada.

Poeta a publicat nou volume de poezie, printre careLinia de plutire(1983), Schie i povestiri(1989),Alinierea la start

(1996), Raport de etap (2011), n urma nvingtorilor (2005),Somewhere in a Different Realm/ Undeva, ntr-un alt plan (texteparalele, traduse n limba englez deAdam J. Sorkin iLianaVrajitoru, 2008).

Poeme de Elena tefoi au aprut n antologii, printrecare Child of Europe(Penguin Books, London, 1990), YoungPoets of a New Romania (Forest Books, London 1990), AnAnthology of Romanian Women Poets (Columbia University

Press, N.Y., 1994).

Elena tefoi is the author of nine books of poetry, amongwhich The Waterline(1983), Drafts andStories(1989), The StartingLine(1996), Interim Report(2011), Behind the Conquerors(2005),Somewhere in a Different Realm/ Undeva, ntr-un alt plan (paralleltexts, translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Liana Vrajitoru, 2008).

Her poems have appeared in anthologies such as Child ofEurope(Penguin Books, London, 1990), Young Poets of a NewRomania(Forest Books, London 1990),An Anthology of RomanianWomen Poets(Columbia University Press, N.Y., 1994).

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Information about the Translator

Ana Olos, born in Timioara, educated in hernative town and at the university of Cluj, is anindependent scholar, translator, and writer. Sheholds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature (1978) andan MA in Human Rights (2000). Before retiring, shetaught English and Canadian Literature at theFaculty of Arts, North University of Baia Mare. Shefounded the Canadian Studies Centre there(1998).

Nscut la Timioara, cu studii n oraul natal i launiversitatea din Cluj, Ana Olos este cercettor literarindependent, traductoare i scriitoare. Deine un doctoratn Literatur Comparat (1978). Are studii masterale ndomeniul Drepturilor Omului (2000). nainte de a seretrage din activitate, a fost profesor de Literaturianglofone i de Studii Canadiene la Facultatea de Litere aUniversitii de Nord din Baia Mare, unde a nfiinatCentrul de Studii Canadiene (1998).


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Elena Stefoi. Poems. CLP

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