By Kornelijus Platelis

[Tradition dictates that three of your closest friends give the final Eulogies at your grave site before burial. These are the words of Kornelijus Platelis, Mama’s good friend from a meeting almost two decades ago in Durham, CT, and colleague at the Ministry. A translation by Jonas Zdanys follows.]

Sausainis Persefonei

Vaivai, in memoriam

Žvelgiau į žalią švieselę tuščiame ekrane,
už lango kabojo niūri, plėvėta gruodžio migla,
radijas mokė kepti imbierinius sausainius.
Klankt – užsitrenkė telefono slasteliai staiga:
„Ji išėjo“.

Pele, pele,
imk sausainį imbierinį,
neški urvais ilgaisiais,
dėk jį prie kojų Hadui,
dėk Persefonei.
Sakyki: dabar ateisiančios
siela baltesnė už sniegą,
rankos delnais į viršų,
širdis nebegniaužia nieko.
Sakyk: tegu tik akių
jai atmerkti neliepia,
tegu už kaulinių vartų,
pasaulis taip ir palieka.
Žydinčiom pievom klajodamos
paskui tave, Persefone,
jos šitiek darnos regėjo,
šitiek priplūdo grožio,
kad požemio karalystė
juo gali visa sušvisti,
ir tau staiga pasirodyti,
jog metas atėjo grįžti.

2008-12-14


A Cookie for Persephone

for Vaiva, in memoriam

I looked at the small green light on the empty screen,
outside the window hung a somber webbed December mist,
the radio talked about how to bake ginger cookies.
Clunk – the telephone‘s trap slammed suddenly:
„She‘s gone.“

Little mouse, little mouse
take the ginger cookie,
carry it through the deepest caves,
lay it at the feet of Hades,
at Persephone‘s.
Say: the soul of she who comes now
is whiter than snow,
hands with palms offered up,
the heart aching for nothing.
Say: just do not ask her
to open her eyes,
let the world remain as it is
beyond those gates of bone.
Wandering through blossoming meadows
after you, Persephone,
they saw such harmony,
were flooded with such beauty,
that the underworld kingdom
would be filled with light
and suddenly you‘ll think
that it is time to return.

14/12/2008