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Kolenič, Ivan: Panem et circenses (Panem et circenses in English)

Portre of Kolenič, Ivan

Panem et circenses (Slovak)

„Láska!“ – kričíš, – „láska!“
Ako keď sa stretneš so starou známou
A jednou vetou jej vysvetlíš,
Že tvoj elegantný ablek s úzkou čiernou viazankou
A dokonale pristrihnutý účes sú iba výhovorko,
Že stále myslíš na to a ono, na tambo...
Jej mdlá arogancia ti náhle vyráža dych, keď sotva
Badateľne, ale jasne, bez omylu mávne rukou,
Že to všetko dávno zašil čas...
A budúcnosť je nejasná!


PublisherPôvabné hry aristokracie, Slovenský spisovateľ 1991

Panem et circenses (English)

"Love!" you shout, "Love!"
As if you met an old acquaintance
And explained to her in a single sentence
That your elegant suit with slim black tie
And perfectly styled head-gears are only a pretext,
That you always think of this and that...
Her weary arrogance suddenly explodes
your breath, though hardly
Scholarly yet clear, without error, a hand waving
That time has long since mended everything...
And future is not clear!


Source of the quotationOne Hundred Years of Slovak Literature, Vilenica

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