Gilead

Written by Sandor Halmosi

Translated from Hungarian by Elizabeth Csicsery-Rónay

Narrated by Bill Wolak

Hungary

I love the way your boots knock,
the powdery snow on which you walk.
The storms you send me,
this agonizing shortness of breath,
for it comes from you,
I love them all.
I love that accursed evening in the courtyard,
the orchard you didn’t show me.
I love your defiance, your rage,
I love your impatience, which hangs from you
in thick tresses.
I know, in time and space my attraction to you is futile.
And it doesn’t help that I discovered love
some time on the eighth day.
But don’t shake your head – I dislike it.
I-words are skewed in existence,
and descend from the throat.
Believe me, I know whereof I speak, why and to whom.
Ever since I began loving you, I no longer know anything
for certain.
Whether you believe me or not, it’s all the same to me.

Sándor Halmosi is a Hungarian poet, literary translator, and publisher. He lived in Germany for 16 years, but currently lives in Budapest, Hungary. His latest book of poetry translated into English is titled The Dual Nature of Silence.

Elizabeth Csicsery-Ronay is a writer, poet, translator, editor. She studied philosophy at George Washington University, then modern languages at the Sorbonne, Paris.