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Baka István: Circus maximus (Circus maximus in English)

Portre of Baka István
Portre of Kery, Leslie A.

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Circus maximus (Hungarian)

Még kifeszül fölénk a mennybolt
felhőkkel foltozott, kék sátora,
beissza még a vért a megsötétült
porond lucskos fűrészpora,

a nézőtér is tapsol, bár a ponyvát
morogva rázzák az űri szelek,
s a lyukakon átvillámlik a Semmi,
az előadás vége közeleg;

ülünk még, bár hasadozik a vászon,
elpattannak a fény kötelei,
oszlopok dőlnek, ám mi egyre várunk,
rettegéssel és reménnyel teli,

bár előttünk csak Isten és a Sátán
megunt bohóctréfái zajlanak,
s mi hahotázunk gyáván, míg a mennybolt
rossz sátora fejünkre nem szakad.

 
(1981)



Uploaded byCikos Ibolja
Source of the quotationhttp://www.baka.hu/

Circus maximus (English)

The cloud-patched blueness of the sky tent
is taut still, stretched as tightly as before,
and the sodden sawdust of the darkened ring
still does its task, soaks up the gore,
 
the house keeps clapping although the winds of space
growl as they shake the canvas of the tent,
and Emptiness flashes through the fabric holes:
nearly over, the show is soon to end,
 
we're sitting still, although the tarps are ripping,
the lines of light are snapping, each is killed,
poles start to fall, and yet we keep on waiting,
each one with fears and expectations filled,
 
acting before us are God and Satan,
they play the tired routines of a clown,
we guffaw on and cowardly our laughter,
until the sky's poor tent comes crashing down.



Uploaded byFehér Illés
Source of the quotationLeslie A. Kery

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