"The way the sea
embraces the island
gradually, steadily,
so will we,..."
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translated from the Croation by Tom Butler
Rocky Soil
Plow of God
and clears away the stones
infuse the mounds
Sow dragon seed,
May what sprouts
Let the fruits be
May the spirits of table and hills
Like the mica caught in olive tree roots,
The way the sea
children of God's providence,
_______________________________________________________________
that works the soul's
lenten soil
beneath your sharp blade
and the Brac field
with the salt of endurance.
plant angel wings.
grow slowly into
the thirsty eye of dreams
and the crystal of snows.
small, dessicated,
bittersweet of taste.
break unleavened bread
in the clearings.
a kiss between
two mouths.
embraces the island
gradually, steadily,
so will we,
come to love ourselves again.
Translator's Bio Note
Tom Butler received his doctorate in Slavic languages and literatures
from Harvard and has taught at the University of Wisconsin,
Tufts, and Harvard. He has published two anthologies of translations,
one from Serbian and Croatian, and the other from Bulgarian.
He is retired and lives in Cambridge.