Singidunum

Singidunum

Under my wheels the echo of two roads feels

the upper, a shadow of the Roman legions’ trail

at crossroads with turned off headlight

another kind of radiance soars over the night

fast alongside the dark woods

with tips already in tomorrow’s light.

It is not the sunrise

losing one of the roads

I awake into a barbarian joyous heat

and under new hair akin to white feathers

I assault Flavius’ legion’s seat.

(1969)

(Translated by Mirjana N. Radovanov Mataric, 2012 ©)