The motivation why I am a poet is very difficult to explain, because ten or fifteen years ago when I began to write my poetry, the motivation was not the same as today. In that era we needed to testify to the conditions of our living, the conditions of our being here, and now in Lithuania with the seeds of independence, the situation of literature changed, and all we speak now in our texts and in our poetry is not the same as we spoke ten years ago. Obviously, now all those things changed.
I think we need currently to testify, but not to testify all the conditions that are surrounding you in the political era, but you need to testify your soul being now, your soul being in the landscape which is changing, in the fields...that changes now. I am a poet, not in society, but more in nature. And I feel the changes in nature, and I must testify.
close your eyes
you’re gone
visions drown you into another world
your white soul rests
over gentle skies
bright orchards
feeding bees
eternity’s bird disappears into a cover of maple leaves
the maples thick green
embraces you for eternity
close your eyes
you would begin to talk with God about nothing
you will understand the language of birds
calm fingers
opening like a book
non-beings miracle
close your eyes
you will be gone
(English version Craig Czury with Alma Valeviciene)
Luidvikas Jakimavicius. Poet, playwright, and scriptwriter. Lithuania. Mr. Jakimavicius poems have been published nationally and in translation. He also is noted as a playwright and as a scriptwriter for movies.
©2004 Voices Underground
an Earthwork by Patricia Goodrich
www.patriciagoodrich.com
Email: patricia@patriciagoodrich.com
