Five Poems by Grzegorz Wróblewski (b. 1962)

Decline

YOU LIVE WITHOUT GOD FOR THERE IS NO GOD

THEY TOOK GOD FROM US GOD’S BLOOD IS FLOWING

YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD BECAUSE OF GOD

FOR THERE IS NO GOD HAS ANYONE SEEN GOD?

PRAY TO OUR GOD THE TERRIBLE GOD

THEY MURDERED OUR GOD YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD

BRING BACK OUR GOD! WE WANT OUR GOD!

I BETRAYED GOD HAS ANYONE SEEN GOD?

GOD WAS POISONED FOR THERE IS NO GOD

THEY TOOK GOD FROM US I SAY TO GOD

YOU TOO NEED GOD! MY GOD BECAUSE OF GOD!

THERE IS NO GOD HAS ANYONE SEEN GOD?

FOR LOVE OF GOD I BETRAYED GOD

GOD IS TO BLAME YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD?

I WANT MY GOD! FOR GOD’S SAKE PRAY TO GOD

RENOUNCE YOUR GOD FOR THERE IS NO GOD

GOD WAS MURDERED YOU LIVE WITHOUT GOD

YOU TOO NEED GOD THERE IS NO GOD HAS ANYONE

SEEN GOD? I BELIEVE IN GOD AND WANT MY GOD!

GOD’S BLOOD IS FLOWING BECAUSE OF GOD

 

Translated by Piotr Gwiazda

 

 

 

The Reading Room in Christianshavn

“Tulips originated in Turkey,”

an intrusive old man lectures his

sleeping neighbor. “In the Netherlands

around the year 1560 …” But no one

pays him any attention!

The previous day the Danish

successor visited Aalborg

where he and city residents dined

on roasted lamb entrails.

 

Translated by Piotr Gwiazda

 

 

 

A Conspiracy

He caught up with him and with a string impeded his ability to breathe.

Squeezed as tight as he could.

But it still wasn’t enough.

He also carved out a few holes, to look at the blood up close.

It was a cruel act.

(A topic of conversations at soirees and parties.)

A psychopath, a pervert, a vampire, a truly unpredictable

human being.

Ms. Gunilla says these are typical complexes from the kindergarten.

Mr. Per, however, blames his twisted nature.

In any case, what an unpleasant matter.

If I tell someone, they’ll cut off my head.

 

Translated by Piotr Gwiazda

 

 

 

Ostrich Farm

These three overgrown ostriches (each with a purple
stamp on its neck) are calmly following the man

who has sold them for meat.

Translated by Piotr Gwiazda

 

 

 

Light in the Cathedral

What took place a moment ago

no longer has any importance.

 

Stop thinking about the silverware,

We’ll give it to the Salvation Army.

 

Dazzled, you whisper Light …

and I follow you in silence,

 

wondering what will happen to us

when you see the sun again.

 

Translated by Piotr Gwiazda