№ 30

izađem izjutra

ona još spava

na ulicu

vlažnu

od jutarnjih polivača

povedem i psa

njenog

našeg

naravno

šetamo tako

psić i ja

ko koga šeta

više niko ne zna

uostalom

obojica smo u penziji

umirovljeni

upravo tako

jasno

dok nas dvojica dolazimo do kafea

ona još spava

vidi se reka

svetluca mazut po njoj

konobar

dok sedamo

prinosi moje novine

njegov keks

za omanje životinje

jedan kup ruž

za mene

razblažen vodom

(jer tako ona

-koja-još-spava

od kelnera zahteva)

pas ide da piški

kaki

ali se vrati

dok listam umrlice

u novinama

gotovi smo

nema više potrebe

da sedimo u kafeu

proleće lako prevari

može i da se nazebe

dakle

penjemo se stepeništem

tiho

(ona još uvek spava)

ulazimo u stan

polagano otključavajući bravu

ne lajemo

skidam psu povodac

šešir sebi

kaput

cipele

obuvam kućne papuče

gledam je

(dok spava)

najznačajniju ženu na svetu

ženu šezdeset godina staru

pogledam psa

već umornog

i on ima svojih dobrih šesnaest

sad bi joj valjalo pripremiti kafu

(ona to voli izjutra)

odlazim

u kuhinju

ali

dok sipam vodu iz uzavrelog čajnika

opečem desnu ruku

ćutim

sâm sam kriv

idem u kupatilo

ormarić za prvu pomoć

mažem ruku kantarionovim uljem

to uvek imamo u kući

za svaki slučaj

onda žena moja

ustaje

jer pseto cvili

gunđa

dok mi previja ruku

starče glupavi

sa sedamdeset se ne prilazi

kuhinji

gledam je

osećam njen topao miris

nakon sna

zaljubljujem se

ponovo 

of a morning, I go out

while she’s still asleep

into the freshly washed street

still wet

I bring my dog along

her dog

ours

of course

and we amble along

the dog and I

and no one can tell

who is walking whom

at any rate

we’re both retired

resting

god help us

we enter the cafe

at that time

clearly

she’s still asleep

you can see the river

the glistening oil slick

we sit down and

the waiter brings my newspaper

and biscuits

for smaller pets

one glass of red

for me

mixed with water of course

(that’s how she demands it be done,

she-who-is-still-asleep)

the dog goes away to pee

and poo

but comes back

as I read the obituaries

we’re done

there is no need for us

to hang around in a café

spring can be deceptive

one can still get a chill

therefore

we return and climb the staircase

quietly

(she is still asleep)

we unlock carefully

neither of us barks

off with my hat

my coat

my shoes

on with my slippers

I am watching her

sleep

the most important woman in the world

aged sixty one

I glance at the dog

he’s tired already

and over twenty himself

and I think to myself

now’s the time to make coffee

she likes her morning coffee

I go to the kitchen

and scold my right hand

with boiling water from the kettle

I remain quiet

as it’s my fault

go straight to the bathroom

and the medicine cabinet

rub my hand with herbal oil

we always have some in the house

just in case

then my wife

gets up

because the dog had squealed

and bandages my hand

grumbling

you stupid old man

at seventy

you stay away from

the kitchen

I look at her

breathe in her warmth

her sleepy scent

and fall in love

all over again. 

(translated by Lilith Adams)