Nemes Nagy Ágnes: Black Swan (Fekete hattyú in English)

Wooden platform made of birch,
at its helm I made my perch.
Under the bridge, suddenly,
Graceful bird appeared for me.

Thought I’d see an iv’ry swan —
Was as black as coal, this one.
Crimson legs and crimson beak,
molten coal, a flaming streak;
flaming legs, sharpened oar:
blackened
tulip
to her core.

Ever farther did she wade,
lovely bird, I wish she’d stayed,
charcoal cygnus, slender nape —

Since then when I close my eyes
every night I sense her guise:
lustrous swan, charcoal cygnus
oomiac, oomiac,
ooh…… …… ……