Elena Stefoi. Poems. Bilingual

Elena tefoi
A Grammar of the Tower of Babel

Gramatica Turnului Babel
Parallel Texts
Translated into English by Edited by

Ana Olos
Lidia Vianu
ISBN 978-606-8592-51-0
The University of Bucharest

Elena tefoi
Ana Olos
Cover and overall Layout: Lidia Vianu
Cristina Ioana Young for the photographs
Subediting: Irina Boroi, Alexandru Tudor

Proofreading: Irina Boroi
Illustrations: Cristina Ioana Young
IT Expertise: Simona Smulescu
Publicity: Violeta Baroan
Elena tefoi

Parallel Texts
Translated into English by Edited by

Ana Olos
Lidia Vianu
Elena tefoi
A Grammar of the Tower of Babel. Gramatica Turnului Babel. Parallel Texts. 1
Table of Contents
Lidia Vianu: The Americans Were Coming. Canadele existenei. p. 4
Elena tefoi p. 6
A Grammar of the Tower of Babel. Gramatica Turnului Babel
New Year. An nou p. 7

Elective Affinities. Afiniti elective p. 9
Inukshuk Equilibrium. Echilibru de inukuk p. 12
In the Hammock of my Own Beginning. n hamacul propriului nceput p. 14
In the Noose of Summer Light. n laul luminii de var p. 16
Meetings at the Museum of Civilizations. ntlniri la Muzeul Civilizaiilor p. 18
Before and After the Storm. nainte i dup furtun p. 19
Lessons of the Northern Tour. Leciile Turului Nordic p. 21
Summer Watercolor on Rideau Canal. Pastel estival pe Canalul Rideau p. 25
Elena tefoi
On Another Time Zone, in Another Story. Pe alt fus, n alt poveste p. 28

Reporting from the Prairies. Reportaj n prerii p. 30
Canadian Autumn. Toamn canadian p. 33
September Day. Zi de septembrie p. 34
Anniversary in Ottawa. Aniversare la Ottawa p. 36
Random News, Collisions of System. Fapte diverse, ciocniri de sistem p. 38
Between Two Canals. ntre dou canale p. 40
On a Single Ticket. Pe un singur bilet p. 42
On Wilbrod Street, One Saturday Morning. Pe strada Wilbrod, ntr-o smbt dimineaa p. 45
Sunday Tour. Periplu duminical p. 49
Late Spring. Primvar trzie p. 51
Protect What You Love p. 52
Sunday Picture. Tablou de duminic p. 53
Back, from Darknesss Brink. napoi, de pe marginea negurii p. 57
About the Cernica Seagull. Despre pescruul de la Cernica p. 59
In the Long Run. Odat i-odat p. 62
In the Distance, on the Railroad. n zare, pe calea ferat p. 63
Rereadings. Recitiri p. 64
Earth, Books and Protocol. rn, cri i protocol p. 66
A New Beginning. Un nou nceput p. 67
Canadian Haiku p. 68
One Day More. nc o zi p. 68
Late, in Silence. Trziu, pe tcute p. 68
Elena tefoi
Eternal Story. Eterna poveste p. 69

Forever between Us. ntre noi pentru totdeauna p. 69
Only a Souvenir. O singur amintire p. 69
About Us Two. Despre noi doi p. 70
Brother and Sister, like Us. Frate i sor, ca noi p. 70
On Rideau Canal. Pe Canalul Rideau p. 70
Because I Loved You. Pentru c te-am iubit p. 71
In the Silence of Sunset. n tcerea apusului p. 71
Unpaired. Fr de preche p. 71
About Times Passing. Despre trecerea timpului p. 72
Ode to Oblivion. Od uitrii p. 72
Late Spring. Primvar trzie p. 72
Nowhere to Run. Fr scpare p. 73
Sunday in Majors Park. Duminic n Parcul Maiorului p. 73
Ottawa Spring. Primvar la Ottawa p. 73
When You Betrayed Me. De cnd m-ai trdat p. 74
At 1000 Islands. La 1000 de insule p. 74
Biographical Tableau. Tablou biografic p. 74
Information about the poet p. 75

Information about the translator p. 77
Information about the illustrator p. 78
Elena tefoi
Canadele existenei The Americans Were Coming...
Turnul lui Babel este un nume strvechi pentru ceea ce The Tower of Babel is a very old name for what Elena tefoi
Elena tefoi numete ntr-un poem planeta n criz. Acest calls in a poem our planet in crisis. Her book is A Grammar of
volum este, cum zice un vers al poetei, gramatica Turnului the Tower of Babel: it tries to explain things hidden behind the
Babel. Poezia este, pentru Elena tefoi, o explicaie a lucrurilor many languages, the many words of our Earth.
pe care prea multele cuvinte, prea multele limbi ale The poets biography is all in her poems: she was born in a
pmntului le ascund. Moldavian village. She left her village when she began school.
Poemele construiesc o biografie: nscut ntr-un sat Later on she was a teacher in another village. After that, she
moldovenesc, plecat la ora la coal. Profesoar la ar, was proof-reader for a magazine. The Iron Curtain fell. She
corector de revist la Bucureti. Cade Cortina de Fier. Din became editor-in-chief and took her PhD in Philosophy.
corector poeta devine redactor-ef, i d doctoratul n Some lines talk about communist political prisons and the
Filosofie. time after Stalin. A time when hopeful Romanians finally
Cnd i amintesc de comunism, versurile vorbesc despre understood the Americans were not coming after all. The
Canal, adic despre pucriile comuniste, despre dezgheul sentence Vin americanii! (The Americans are coming!)
poststalinist. Erau vremurile cnd romnul nelesese c nu slowly lost its meaning.
mai vin americanii... Some went in search of the New World, either before or
Se ntmpl apoi n aceste poeme c emigrantul srac, cel after the fall of communism. Legally or less legally. They
care duce un acas cu el n spinare, s ajung n placenta carried their imaginary home along. The poet herself found the
canadian. Se uit n jur i se bucur de trai bun i de soare Canadian placenta. Like a child, she enjoys landscapes and
Elena tefoi
ca un copil. Triete n poem comarul c nu vor mai putea life there. A poem, however, reminds her that crossing the
mult vreme s treac oceanul toi cinci cu acelai bilet de Ocean all five of us on a single ticket cannot go on forever.
cltorie. Patru dintre cei cinci nu mai exist. Poeta trage Four of those five members of her family are not here any more.
napoi la ei, la copilrie. Many lines look back at them, at childhood.
n satul prsit cndva de mult, mama nc i pregtete In the village the poet left long ago, her mother is still
lada cu zestre, chiar dac vrstele au trecut, iar poeta triete working to have her peasant dowry chest ready, even though
acum n concubinaj cu literatura... it is too late, and the poet is now literatures concubine...
O poezie reticent i stingher iat ce scrie Elena tefoi, Elena tefois poems are reticent and solitary. Philosopher,
poeta-filosof, poeta-jurnalist, poeta-diplomat ambasadoare n journalist, ambassador to Canada the poet writes down the
Canada. Eroina unei poveti de succes, care este chiar viaa ei, successful story of her own life. A sensibility broken to pieces
chiar dac sensibilitatea fcut ndri de prea multe btlii by far too many battles prevents her from rejoicing.
n-o las s se bucure de niciuna din Canadele existenei. We learn from this book the universal language of all those
Gramatica Turnului Babel ne nva limbajul universal al who are aware they are far too small for the great war of
inteligenei care tie c e prea mic pentru un rzboi att de globalization, of the internet, of the outer space. And yet, this
mare cum este globalizarea, cum este internetul, cum este book watches the Tower of Babel with the Romanian hopeful
spaiul cosmic. Volumul acesta se uit la lume cu wisdom that all languages are worth knowing.
nelepciunea romnului pe care l-au clcat toate limbile
pmntului, i cu toate acestea cu toate acestea, el nc i
scrie oful n romnete.
Bucureti, 18 June 2014

Lidia Vianu
Elena tefoi

Parallel Texts
Elena tefoi
An nou New Year
A fost frenezie de toamn prin primvar, It was autumn frenzy throughout the spring
dar i spaim cu trmbie la-nceput de decembrie. but also fear with trumpets at the onset of December.
M-a rnit puin laul gtuitor al imensului gol, The choking noose of the huge emptiness had hurt me a little
nainte de topirea zpezii. Cteva luni mai trziu before the thaw of snow. Some months later,
culorile frunzelor de arar m-au nvat s dansez the colours of the maple leaves taught me to dance
pe crare, dup vacana de var, cu povara on the path, after the summer holiday, with the burden
adus de-acas, de parc mi-a fi adus brought over from home, as if I had brought
iubitul dinti la primul nostru bal vienez. my first lover to our first Viennese ball.
A fost din cnd n cnd negur cu sclipici, From time to time, it was darkness with glitter
srcie cu protocol, victorie cu tone de zgur poverty with protocol, victory with tons of slag
dar aproape tot timpul bucurie de via but almost all the time the joy of life
simpl altfel i altcum dect tiam c exist. simply different and otherwise than I had known it be.
Atept noul an pe dou fuse orare, I am waiting for the New Year on two time zones,
fr s tiu pe care s-mi numr dorinele without knowing on which one to count my desires
i m nfresc cu puiul de caribou and I fraternize with the baby caribou
despre care am aflat c fuge pe picioarele lui about whom Ive heard that it runs on its own feet
dup mama, miop i curios, prin peisajele arctice, behind its mother, short-sighted and curious,
imediat ce-a scpat din placent. among the Arctic landscapes,
Elena tefoi
O trec pe lista marilor frumusei right after escaping from the placenta.
care mi-au tiat calea, privindu-m-n ochi, I put on the list of the great beauties
pe Brunette, decana pisicilor fr stpn who crossed my way, looking in my eyes,
de pe colina parlamentar, plecat de-a pururi Brunette the doyenne of the stray cats
nainte de Srbtori: lng buchetul de flori from Parliament Hill, gone for ever
agat pe gardul adpostului pentru pisici before the Holidays; close to the bunch of flowers
n jurul cruia 18 ani i-a tors libertatea, hung on the fence of the cats shelter
cineva i-a dedicat un panou de aducere aminte around which she had purred her freedom for 18 years,
i pe el flutur, lng propria-i poz, steagul Canadei. someone had dedicated her a poster in remembrance
and on it, besides her picture, floats Canadas flag.
Lumea e mare e mic e bun i rea. The world is large is small is good and mean.
Cumpna dintre ani e de aur de hrtie de tinichea The bridge between the years is of gold of paper of tin.
Elena tefoi
Afiniti elective Elective Affinities
Pe-aici spaiile verzi te ateapt cu ndemnul bilingv Here the green meets you with the bilingual incentive
Adopt a park / Adoptez un parc Adopt a park / Adoptez un parc
eu m-am legat temeinic i fr scpare I have become strongly and with no escape attached
de Parcul Strathcona cu fntna lui to Strathcona Park with its fountain
care tocmai i-a serbat centenarul that has recently celebrated its centenary
i de la care poi pleca pe jos, pe biciclet, and from which you can leave on foot by bike
pe schiuri sau pe rotile, pn la 1000 de insule on ski or on skateboard for the 1000 islands
ori pn n portul montrealez or to Montreals port
de-aici, ca din labirintul primei copilrii, from here, like from my early childhoods labyrinth,
am ieire nengrdit spre lume I have a boundless exit into the world
aa cum ieeam acas din livad n pdurea de-alturi the way at home I used to go from the orchard to the
pe trmul primit zilnic motenire din cri neighbouring woods
i de-acolo, pe ru, n jos, sau n sus, on the realm daily inherited from books
la schit, s decodific febril mesajele tot mai sofisticate and from there, downstream or upstream,
pe care mi le lsa, sub catapeteasm, din cnd n cnd, to the hermitage, to feverishly decode the more and more
Michidu sophisticated messages
sau dimpotriv, s decolez de pe catargul monumentului which the little imp used to leave for me, from time to time,
Elena tefoi
stalinist, under the altar screen,

din piscul crrii lui Creang, ctre ochiul bulboanei, or on the contrary, to take off from the mast of the Stalinist
ieind clare pe mturoi, n rochii de amazoan, monument
din ntunericul hd i neputicios pentru a poposi, peste from the peak of Creangs path, to the eye of the vortex,
deal, to go out riding a broomstick, dressed like an Amazon,
n locul din care plecasem, cu prada de care n-avea nimeni from the ugly and helpless darkness in order to halt, over
nevoie, the hill,
mpltoat i-nciupercat de-atta imaginaie on the spot I had left from, with the booty nobody needed,
armour-clad and mushroom-like of so much imagination.
i-am dat trcoale acestui parc vreo cteva veri I had walked around this park for some summers
i l-am adoptat apoi pentru totdeauna and then adopted it for ever
fr s-mi pese de gura lumii not caring for what others might say
tiind bine c el m luase n grij doar temporar knowing well that it had looked after me just for a while
asemeni mtuii din satul vecin nainte de a m duce la like my aunt from the neighbouring village before I went to
coal school
la plecare, plngndu-i n brae, am jurat, at my departure, weeping in her arms, I had sworn
n sinea mea, c mi-o alesesem de mam to myself that I choose her as a mother
pentru cnd aveam s fiu mare, fr s tiu pe atunci for the time I grow up, not knowing then
c sora ei mult mai tnr avea s ne lase orfani ntr-o either that her much younger sister would leave us
toamn, orphaned an autumn
nainte ca eu s fi ieit din adolescen before I left behind my teens
i nici c aceast dorin trufa, or that this haughty wish
de care niciuna dintre ele de fapt nu aflase vreodat which none of them ever learned about
Elena tefoi
avea s-mi atrne de gt ca o piatr de moar would hang from my neck like a millstone
pn-n ziua de azi. up to this very day.
Elena tefoi
Echilibru de inukuk Inukshuk Equilibrium
Cu pietrele ptrate de sub podul Hurdman With the rectangular stones from under Hurdman Bridge
cineva a ridicat de ieri pn azi since yesterday till today someone has raised
un inukuk geamn cu toi aceia an Inukshuk, sibling to all those
pe care-i vzusem pe brouri I had seen in brochures
i pe ilustratele din muzee and on picture postcards from museums
cu mult nainte de a m adposti long before I took shelter
ntr-o sear fumegnd de iunie one smoky June evening
n Nordul ndeprtat pe colina din Tuktoyaktuk in the Far North on Tuktoyaktuk hill
n aureola unghiului protector in the halo of the protecting angle
dintre braele naripate perfect paralele in-between the winged arms perfectly parallel
cu linia cerului gata de duc with the sky line ready to leave
i cu picioarele solid fixate pe sol and with the legs of their nations founder
ale ntemeietorului neamului lor solidly fixed on the ground
m-am oprit s-i mulumesc c-mi apruse n cale I stopped to thank him for having showed up in my way
l-am mbiat cu apa din sticla pe care-o umplusem I offered him water from the bottle I had filled
la izvorul din Parcul Guvernatoarei at the well in the Governess Park
podul slta deschizndu-se pe mijloc spre ceruri the bridge was bouncing rising at its middle towards the
fcnd loc unor iahturi de lux skies
Elena tefoi
n susul i-n josul prului giving way to some luxury yachts

din ele ne priveau nenumrate ocheane downstream and upstream
n cutare de fapte diverse from them countless binoculars were watching us
ntre mine i simbolul de piatr looking for news items
se esuse deja o dragoste cu totul i cu totul aparte between me and the stone symbol
ca ntre dou fiine care cnt mpreun muzic gospel already woven a love story completely different
ntr-un lca pndit ndeaproape like the one between two beings singing together gospel
de colii grohitori ai vreunui flmnd Antichrist music
in a church closely watched
by the grunting fangs of a hungry Antichrist.
Elena tefoi
n hamacul propriului nceput In the Hammock of My Own Beginnings
La poala colinei parlamentare At the foot of Parliament Hill

peste care troneaz pisicile fr stpn over which the stray cats reign
(le vezi ieind din adpostul lor cte una (you see them coming out from their shelter one by one
doar n zile cu soare lsndu-se rsfate only on sunny days letting themselves be fondled
de cohorte de vizitatori de camerele lor performante ) by the cohorts of visitors by their efficient cameras)
intrasem alene n tunelul de-o chioap I had walked slowly into their tiny tunnel
stnjenit c nu puteam gndi la altceva embarrassed because I couldnt think of anything else
dect c mi-ar fi plcut s-mi ntlnesc soarta except that I would have liked to meet my destiny
pe drumul acela nainte de-a fi prea trziu on that path before it was too late
am ieit la lumin fr s tiu pn unde I came out to the light without knowing up to where
i ct avea s m in plasa ei and how long its net would hold me
cu miros de horbot de mireas with the smell of bridal lace
am ocolit pe podeul din stnga I went around the footbridge on the left
spre pintenul de verdea to the grassy embankment
care se oprea n apa clipocitoare a Ottawei that stopped in the murmuring water of Ottawa
precum o insul karmic n hamacul like a karmic island in the hammock
propriului ei nceput of its own beginning
m-am aezat pe o lespede, cu spatele I sat down on a slab, with my back turned
Elena tefoi
la Muzeul Rzboiului i cu faa la Notre Dame, to the War Museum and facing the Notre Dame,
pe ru venea nspre o mine o plut on the river a raft was coming towards me
ticsit cu indigeni ordonai dup reguli poetice crammed with Natives arranged according to poetic rules
erau nvemntai n vpaie, aveau pene i coifuri they were clad in flames, had feathers and helmets
aa cum vzusem n vechile filme the way I had seen in the old movie pictures
m-au salutat soldete ca la comand they saluted me soldierly as if ordered

pe muzica tobelor n ritm vulturesc on the music of drums in aquiline rhythm
au poposit apoi pe malul din dreapta, then settled on the right bank
la aezarea lor din buricul turistic al capitalei on their place from the tourist hub of the capital
(muzeu n aer liber via fr de moarte) (open air museum, life without death)
n jurul cortului fumegau focuri fires were fuming around the tents
i ateptau dnuind copii femei oaspei children women visitors from all over the world
din patru zri ale lumii were waiting for them to dance
am plecat mai departe, crnd n spinare I walked away, carrying on my back

arcul cu animale de pe islazul din satul natal the pen with animals from the pasture of my native village
de care trebuia s am grij n lungi duminici de var that I had to look after during long summer Sundays.
Elena tefoi
n laul luminii de var In the Noose of Summer Light
Pericol de circ Circus-like danger

dulce i tainic sweet and mysterious
diavolul nsui the devil himself
acrobat desprins de pluton an acrobat detached from the troop
i potrivete cu elegan grumazul fixes elegantly his neck
n laul luminii de var in the noose of summer light
nflcrnd deopotriv setting fire to both
privirile subpmntene the underground glances
i vrtejul celest and the celestial whirl
din coarnele lui izbucnete an ardent symphony pours

o aprig simfonie deasupra oraului from his horns over the city
din tlpile lui coboar-n adncuri a pair of sober swans
o pereche sobr de lebede descend from his soles into the depths
stau de vorb cu ele I talk to them
n gnd la distan in my mind from afar
tiu c-am nvins I know I have won,
le alint n graiul bunicii I tell them tender words
i ele alunec nfricotor de frumoase in my grandmother's idiom
Elena tefoi
spre mal pe Canalul Rideau and they slide fearfully beautiful

s-mi mnnce din palm. towards the bank of the Rideau Canal
to feed from my palm.
Iunie 2009
June 2009
Elena tefoi
ntlniri la Muzeul Civilizaiilor Meetings at the Museum of Civilizations
O flacr nenfricat A fearless flame

coboar scrile din faa muzeului descends the stairs in front of the museum
n timp ce un val nspimntat de moarte while a frightened to death wave
le urc climbs them
pe pajite, la doi pai, on the green, close by,

Personajele lui Archambault Archambaults People
m strig pe nume, mi fac reverene, are calling me by my name, are curtseying to me,
alb i filiform white and filiform
una dintre statui se desprinde de grup one of the statues separates from the group
m ia de mn, m alint optit takes me by the hand, whispers endearments
cu vorbele mamei, cu vocea bunicii, with my mothers words, with my grandmothers voice,
cu dragostea ntregului ir de femei with the love of the whole succession of women
din familia noastr from our family
care-au adus din greeal pe lume who gave birth by mistake
cte-un spirit rebel from time to time to a rebel spirit
Elena tefoi
nainte i dup furtun Before and After the Storm
Sub tunet i fulgere Under thunder and lightning

de pe socluri de piatr from their stone pedestals
cele cinci faimoase manitobane the five famous Manitobans
care s-au luptat s conving lumea who had fought to convince the world
c i femeile sunt persoane that women are persons too
ndrum lumea la adpost guide the visitors to the shelter
doi pai mai ncolo just a few steps away
sub streaina Parlamentului under the eaves of Parliament
pe ua cruia ele n-avuseser voie s intre on whose door they had had no right to enter
pe cealalt colin deasupra ecluzei on the other hill above the lock
lng Chateau Laurier printre nori near Chateau Laurier among the clouds
ies deja stelele din coiful colonelului By the stars are already coming out of Colonel Bys helmet
iar acesta i mut privirea and he moves his glance
direct n decolteul unei trupee mexicance right into the cleavage of a bosomy Mexican girl
n timp ce tovarul ei de excursie while her companion
mnuiete o camer video wields a video camera
n spatele Curii Supreme behind the Supreme Court

Elena tefoi
n-a czut pictur de ploaie no drop of rain had fallen

i pe malul multicolor and on the multicoloured river bank
n acelai roi de albine in the same swarm of bees
anii din urm i cei pe care-i mai am de trit the latest years and the one I have still to live
zumzie n jurul unei minuscule corbii de lemn are buzzing around a tiny wooden ship
scpat ca prin minune din maxilarul tornadei that had miraculously escaped from the jaws of the tornado
n stratul cu lalele n plin Festival in the plot with tulips right in the middle of the Festival
Elena tefoi
Leciile Turului Nordic Lessons of the Northern Tour
I. I.
Pe-o cruce minuscul, undeva, Somewhere, on a minuscule cross,
la ieirea din Yellowknife at the exit from Yellowknife
pe drumul spre Resolute Bay on the road to Resolute Bay
(adic la captul lumii (in other words the end of the world
pentru toate neamurile mele de snge) for all my blood relations)
din ntmplare silabisesc I happen to syllabicate
numele celui fr speran iubit the name of the one whom I had loved hopelessly
ntr-o adolescen amar during a bitter adolescence
flori mpietrite petrified flowers

artificii meschine mean artifices
cabale i prevestiri cabals and premonitions
se-nghesuie-n sistole are crowding in systoles
i se topesc n diastole and are melting in diastoles
o, Doamne, ieri m rugam O, Lord, yesterday I was praying

s-mi gsesc pe pmnt jumtatea to find my mate on earth
azi tropi necredincioas today I trample faithless
ntr-o coinciden de vodevil in a vaudeville-like coincidence
Elena tefoi
n trecere prin acest loc deprtat just passing through this faraway place
care n-are nimic de-a face that has nothing to do
cu suferina mea de pe vremuri with my remote suffering
ci doar cu faptul c satul global except the fact that the global village
nu-i o metafor is not just a metaphor
i c oasele emigranilor and that the immigrants bones
chiar stau la temelia Canadei are actually lying at Canadas foundation
simt cum se ese n jur I feel how a lacy night
o sear ndantelat is woven around me
asemenea serilor de cenaclu resembling the nights at the literary club
n care tandreea literar a iubitului interzis where the forbidden lovers literary tenderness
spla n vzul lumii cu lacrimi de nger had been washing with angels tears
i tampona grijuliu cu leacuri vrjite and was carefully plugging with bewitched remedies
rdcina cornielor mele de drac the root of my small devil-horns
II. II.
ghea verde cerul n palm green ice the sky in my palm
ritm fr timp timeless rhythm
netiute delicii detalii de cimitir unknown delights graveyard details
ct o scandaloas istorie as much as a scandalous story
harpoane pierdute lost harpoons
jucrii din crp i oase rag toys and bones
Elena tefoi
spre rmul Oceanului towards the Ocean shore
vetedul sim al proprietii the withered sense of property

n ochii octogenarei dintr-un trib inuit in the eyes of the Inuit woman in her eighties
care a nvins toate schimbrile who had overcome all the changes
trind din artizanat, dansnd pe piele de foc surviving on craftsmanship, dancing on sealskin
fa n fa cu sarcasmul elveian face to face with modern Swiss sarcasm
modern diplomatic i hd diplomatic and ugly
III. III.
drumul spre nicieri the road to nowhere
are i o plcu indicatoare n acest sens has a sign in this sense
(chiar aa The Street to Nowhere) (exactly this The Street to Nowhere)
asaltat de pixeli de glume de fotografi amatori assaulted by pixels of jokes by amateur photographers
pmntul metalic the metallic soil

aur sterp echinociul polar sterile gold the polar equinox
vntori i pescari hunters and fishers
ntr-un desen simplu ntr-un dialect complicat in a simple drawing in a complicated dialect
de la un hangar la altul from one hangar to another

apte zile n Turul Nordic seven days in the North Tour
ntr-un avion cu pasageri elegani in a plane with elegant passengers
alei pe sprncean chosen from among the best
Elena tefoi
reprezentnd doar punctele norocoase pe hart representing only the lucky spots on the map
lin cdere spre marginea globului gentle fall towards the margins of the globe
cu trecutul incins i magnetic n brae with a fiery past and magnetic in the arms
iunie 2007 June 2007

Elena tefoi
Pastel estival pe Canalul Rideau Summer Watercolor on Rideau Canal
ncleiate de-o iarn prea lung Glued together after a too long winter
oasele mele s-au tot pregtit my bones kept preparing
de vineri pn duminic from Friday till Sunday
s nvee un dans nepereche to learn an exceptional dance
s pluteasc lacom puse pe giumbulucuri to float greedily ready to frolic
n cristelnia strii poetice in the font of the poetic mood
o parte din mine orcie a part of myself squeals like babies

precum ncii la poarta pe care urmeaz at the gate through which
s-i nfrunte propria soart they are going to face their fate
cealalt parte ncearc rochii de gal the other part tries on evening dresses
inute de floretist costume de soldat la parad fencing attires a soldiers parade uniform
dis-de-diminea pe podul Saint Nicolas early in the morning on Saint Nicholas Bridge
am gsit un stilou I had found a fountain-pen
nou-nou i sofisticat brand new and sophisticated
din cele la care visasem one of those I had been dreaming of
cteva decenii la rnd ntr-o alt existen a mea during decades in another existence
Elena tefoi
mai trziu, descul, am tiat de una singur valul later on, barefoot, all alone I confronted a wave
clcnd pe lichenii alunecoi treading on the slippery lichens
spre masa fixat de-un cinefil ndrzne towards the table a daring film fan had fixed
chiar n mijlocul rului right in the middle of the river
n locul din care se formeaz o mini-cascad in the place where a mini-waterfall arises
pe mas m ateptau fixate n pioneze on a table fixed with thumbtacks

dou file catifelate two velvety sheets
asemeni braelor celui din urm iubit like my last lovers arms
m-am lsat ademenit de ele I let myself lured by them
fr ruine m-am mpcat shamelessly reconciled
cu aceast simpl form de fericire with this simple form of happiness
i mi-am adus aminte de pisoiul adormit n ceardac and I remembered the kitten asleep on the porch
n curtea alor mei de la ar, in my familys farmyard,
cu gtul prins n ghemul pe care-l smotocise ceasuri la with its neck caught in the wool ball it had played with for
rnd hours
n ziua n care tocmai mi ngropasem fratele geamn the very day when I had buried my twin brother
am zbovit ndelung ntins cu faa spre cer for quite a while I lingered laying with my face to the sky
pe masa de lemn strjuit de dou lavie paralele on a wooden table guarded by two parallel benches
simeam rul lumii curgnd feeling the worlds evil flowing under me
nestvilit i neputincios pe sub mine n sunetul apei unleashed and powerless in the sound of the water
auzeam vocile bucuroase din parcul Strathcona I heard cheerful voices from Strathcona Park
hrnind psretul feeding the birds
Elena tefoi
la plecare sub una din lavie am zrit at my departure under one of the benches I saw
trei argini inexplicabil lipii three silver coins inexplicably sticking
pe piatra lucitoare ca pe ochiul ispitei to the glittering stone as if on temptations eye
i-am strecurat repede n buzunar I let them slide quickly into my pocket
fr s m ntreb dac sunt semn de noroc without asking myself whether they were a sign of luck
sau preul vreunei trdri or the price of some treason
am trecut mult mai uor de partea cealalt I passed more easily to the other side
curentul se ndulcise the current had become milder
tlpile mele nu mai alunecau my soles werent slipping anymore
pe mtasea din firele creia la doi pai on the silk from whose threads a few steps away
se isca vrtejul melodios the melodious whirl was issuing
ntmpltoare mi se preau all the little signs

toate micile semne seemed to me fortuitous
prescrise parc de povetile lui Gellu Naum as if prescribed by Gellu Naums tales
marile lor nelesuri their great meanings
Elena tefoi
Pe alt fus, n alt poveste On Another Time Zone, in Another Story
De-a lungul rului, pe Crarea Drumeilor, Along the river, on Voyageurs Pathway,
de la Podul Lady Aberden pn la Podul Champlain, from Lady Aberdeen Bridge to Champlain Bridge
am rscolit ntr-o zi de var, centimetru cu centimetru, before and after the storm,
nainte i dup furtun, aceast frumusee I had turned upside down, inch by inch, this beauty
meteugit ordonat i cu totul lipsit de ifose, masterly ordered and completely lacking haughtiness,
cutnd verighetele prinilor mei looking for my parents wedding rings
pe care aflasem trgnd cu urechea about which I had heard eavesdropping
la sfatul unor guralive vecine advised by some gossipy women from the neighbourhood
c mama mamei le-ar fi aruncat that my mothers mother might have thrown them
legate strns c-un fir aspru de cnep tightly bound together with a rough thread of hemp
(smuls de pe fusul pe care-l torcea) (torn from the spindle on which she was spinning )
n groapa cu blegar din spatele grajdului onto the dung hole from behind the stable
chiar n seara n care tata venise s-o cheme la nunt the very night when my father had come to call her to the
wedding
mintea mea a umblat dup ele noapte de noapte my mind had looked for them night after night
n toi anii adolescenei along all the years of my teens
fr s-i pese de vrcolaci i mirosuri not afraid of werewolves and smells
de blesteme i viermi of curses and worms
Elena tefoi
nchipuindu-i neodihnit i nenfrnat restlessly and ceaselessly imagining

c ele o s-mi ias odat i-odat n cale that some day they would show up in my way
atunci cnd voi fi ajuns s m bucur de drumul then when I should have reached a state to enjoy the road
pe care alesesem s m ndeprtez ct mai mult I had chosen to depart on more and more
de aceast poveste rural from this rural story
la asfinit, la doi pai de cas, pe ulia strmt at sunset, not far from home, on the narrow lane
care unete strada Laurier cu Augusta that unites Laurier Street and Augusta
asemntoare pn-n ultimul amnunt resembling in every detail
cu scurttura care tia drumul ntre coal i magazin the shortcut on the way between the school and the shop
i pe care-o luau btrnele la nmormntri on which the old women used to go to funerals
ieind naintea cortegiului coming out in front of the procession
chiar la colul final dinspre cimitir exactly at the last corner before the churchyard
pe gardul din cercevele de-o parte i alta on the fence made of window frames on both sides
cineva ntinsese snopul de cnep, someone spread out the hemp sheaf,
sub tufa de liliac degetele unui heruvim se pregteau under the lilac bush a cherubs fingers prepared
s trag din caier pe fusul viitorului meu to draw out from the bundle and set on my futures spindle
firul ntreg i nicicnd rnit de nodul att de dureros the intact thread un-injured by the so painful knot
la care-l condamnase mnia bunicii materne to which it had been condemned by my maternal
grandmothers anger
Elena tefoi
Reportaj n preerii Reporting from the Prairies
Spre grania de nord-vest a Canadei, Towards Canadas north-western border

ntr-un fel de Brgan din care rsar, in a kind of vast plain like Brgan, from which,
din jumtate n jumtate de ceas, at each half hour a small house
n drumul mainii, cte-o cas mrunt and a paunchy barn
i cte-un hambar burduhos show up in front of the car
adic o ferm nsemnat pe hart ca un ora thats a farmstead marked on the map like a town
pierdut pe-o colin nspre Kayville, lost on a hill towards Kayville,

o troi romneasc vegheaz a Romanian wayside cross keeps vigil
peste vreo dou duzini de morminte over about two dozen graves
(localnicii i spun cimitirul cel vechi) (the local people call it the old churchyard)
pe fiecare lespede nc se vede on each slab there is still visible
o urm din Bucovina a vestige from Bucovina
m duc la centenarul unei biserici I am going to a the centennial of a church

ridicat de-ai notri, n vale, la adpost, our people had raised, down the valley, sheltered,
unde azi au venit s-i pomeneasc strmoii where today they have come to pray for their ancestors
canadieni din ntregul Saskatchewan Canadians from all over Saskatchewan
dei n preajm nu locuiete nimeni de fapt though actually nobody lives nearby
Elena tefoi
(prima aezare e la zeci de kilometri distan, (the first settlement is tens of kilometers away,
aici a rmas doar lcaul i sala de-alturi here only the church and the neighbouring hall
folosit din cnd n cnd pentru baluri i parastase) used at times for balls or funeral repasts have remained)
parcarea e nesat, zumzetul pios al ceremoniei the parking lot is crowded, the pious buzz of the ceremony
tmiaz treptele la intrare covers the entrance stairs in incense
ntre pronaos i altarul pictat ca acas between the narthex and the homely painted altar
pesc plrii elegante de doamne elegant ladies hats parade
desprinse din scene de bal vienez issuing from scenes of Viennese balls
alturi de ii i catrine beside embroidered peasant blouses and aprons
de jeani i tricouri jeans and T shirts
de inute modeste de fermieri modest farmer suits
de paiete gablonzuri i diamante spangles cheap jewelry and diamonds
un nepot de rutean face slujba de liturghie a Ruthenians grandson celebrates the liturgy
dup o carte tiprit n romn-englez according to a book printed in Romanian-English
silabisete buchea ntemeietorilor ortodoci syllabicates the words of the orthodox founders
crora li se aduce prinos to whom they pay homage
la fel de greu cum buchiseau fr ndoial acetia, who beyond doubt had read with the same difficulty,
la sosirea pe pmntul fgduinei, at their arrival on the land of promise,
silabele jumtii celeilalte de pagin the syllables on the other half of the page
aici i acum mi e foarte uor s-mi nchipui now and here its very easy for me to imagine
tot irul celor din neamul meu the whole sequence of those of my people
Elena tefoi
care nu i-au prsit nicicnd ara natal who had never left their native country
fiecare ncercnd s se descurce pe lumea cealalt, each of them trying to manage in the other world,
ntre strini, nvnd srguincios among strangers, learning eagerly
gramatica Turnului Babel, the Tower of Babels grammar,
indicatoarele attor autostrzi fr margini, the road signs of the so many endless highways
motorul de cutare al cerescului Internet, the search engine of the celestial Internet,
regulile vieii de emigrant the rules of the emigrants life
care ia totul curajos de la capt who start everything courageously anew
acolo, n rai sau n iad, there, in heaven or hell,
trimind alor si semne doar la Crciun i la Pati, sending their family signs only at Christmas and Easter,
hotrnd zilnic c odat i-odat se va ntoarce. each day deciding that once and for ever they will return.
Regina, Iunie 2008 Regina, June 2008

Elena tefoi
Toamn canadian Canadian Autumn
Nori luminoi frunzi mieriu Luminous clouds honey-like foliage

rou din verde aur topit red from green play of melt gold
pasul meu printre neamuri nomade my step among nomad people
trecnd peste poduri podee over bridges paths and footbridges
pasarele i puni de la ru la pru gang planks and passages
pe la toate ecluzele i pe la cascade from creeks to rivers to brooks
prin toate formele de trziu at every lock at each waterfall
deloc obosit through all forms of lateness
not tired at all
culori elixiruri amprente divine colors elixirs divine imprints

balsam din apus pnla rsrit balm from the western side to the east
earf-n volute podoab pe drum scrolled sash adornment on the road
de care se-aga lumea din mine to which my inner world clings
fr s tie de ce nu mai eti without knowing yet without asking
s-o vrei tocat s-o tragi pe roat why you arent around anymore
cu nelesul fostei poveti wishing it sliced up and minced
altfel nicicum on the wheel broken day after day
with the meaning of the old story
otherwise, no way
Elena tefoi
Zi de septembrie September Day
Rubinie lumin de asfinit Ruby sunset light

muzici i expresii extatice music and ecstatic expressions
pe aleile de pe Dealul Major on the alleys of Major Hill
cluza Ashininabe Anishinabe the guide
se-aga de tineree pe soclu clings to youth on the pedestal
atent doar la programul ei paying attention only to her schedule
de genuflexiuni i alte exerciii istorice of genuflexions and other historical exercises
m opresc n grdina japonez Zen I stop at the Japanese Zen garden

de lng Muzeul Civilizaiilor near the Museum of Civilizations
i dintr-odat mna Celui de Sus and all at once the Lords hand
rstoarn ghidu peste mine playfully overturns upon me
un butoi cu miere imens i strlucitor an immense and sparkling barrel of honey
m scald n ngduina solstiiului I bathe in the lenience of the solstice
din cap pn-n picioare from head to toe

de la piele pn-n mduva oaselor from my skin to the marrow of my bones
se ordoneaz fiina mea toat my entire being sets itself into order
Elena tefoi
asemeni unui binecuvntat portativ like a blessed score

pe care se va aterne n curnd on which soon a masterpiece
capodopera will be written
Elena tefoi
Aniversare la Ottawa Anniversary in Ottawa
nc din zori Since early dawn

bubuie o fanfar a brass band has been booming
n fiecare oglind din cas from every mirror in the house
sunt singur cu gndul I am alone with the thought
c-am ctigat un rzboi that I have won a war
n care n-a fi vrut s fiu parte in which I did not want to be a part
nu tiu de ce pentru cine dont know why for whom
nimeni din familia noastr no one in our family

n-a trecut acest prag has passed this threshold
trei dintre cei mai buni prieteni three of my best friends
cu care plecasem la drum with whom I had taken to the road
au evitat s-l nfrunte avoided confronting it
un poet care-a vrut s m-adopte a poet who had wanted to adopt me
i un altul care s-a oferit s-mi fie frate de cruce and another who had offered
s-au ascuns cu un pas mai devreme to become my sworn brother
chiar i singurul brbat de pe lume hid just a step before
convins c-l voi iubi toat viaa even the only man in the world
a plecat tiptil ntr-o noapte convinced that I would love him forever
Elena tefoi
nainte de-a mplini 55 left stealthily one night

before he turned 55
drapat n hlamida unui pomelnic draped in the mantle of a rigmarole

strlucesc ntr-un ora n care nu m-a chemat I sparkle in a city where no one
nc nimeni nicicnd la prohod has invited me to a funeral yet
parc m-a vedea perornd la televizor its as if I saw myself uttering a speech on TV
pe-o planet strin pentru ochii furnicilor on an alien planet for the eyes of ants
vie pentru tot irul celor prea dragi alive for the succession of all loved ones
demult pe-o alt planet condui and long ago led to another planet
la locul din urm to their last habitat
pe luciul oglinzii m nconjoar ocrotitor on the glitter of the mirror surrounding me protectively
chipurile lor unite n hor cum n-au fost niciodat their faces united in a round dance as they had never been
ncununate de gloria acestei victorii crowned with the glory of this victory
la care i-au adus toi la un loc to which all of them together and each of them apart
i fiecare n parte obolul. had brought their own contribution.
Iulie 2009 July 2009

Elena tefoi
Fapte diverse, ciocniri de sistem Random News, Collisions of System
Un pui de balen a fost agat A baby whale that had been tied
de o ambarcaiune de croazier to a cruise boat
venind din Alaska coming from Alaska
i-a dat duhul sngernd n nvoade passed away bleeding in the nets
sub ochii revoltai ai turitilor de pe punte under the shocked eyes of the tourists on deck
i i-a nsoit, astfel, pn ce vasul a tras la debarcader and it accompanied them thus till the boat reached the
docks
asaltai de blitz-uri, reportofoane, assaulted by flashguns and reporters recorders

camere de filmat i interes denat cameras and the improper interest
din partea experilor de tot felul of all kinds of experts
oamenii i-au mrturisit imensa tristee these people expressed their immense sadness
pentru aceast tragedie nemaivzut for this never before seen tragedy;
aa cum fcuse de fapt, cu o lun n urm, the same way, a month before, on all TV stations
pe toate televizoarele, i perechea afgan, an Afghan couple had
deplngnd convingtor un accident de main convincingly deplored the car accident
care lsase patru victime n canalul din Kingston that had left four victims in the Kingston canal
dei s-a dovedit ntre timp c familia nsi, though in the meantime it had been proven that the
i necase cu snge rece, ntr-un Nissan nou-nou, family itself
Elena tefoi
cele trei fete rebele mpreun cu femeia had drowned in cold blood, in a brand new Nissan,
care avea grij de ele their three rebel daughters together with the woman
i care n-apucase s divoreze vreodat who was looking after them
de capul ndoliatei familii and who had never had the chance to divorce
the head of the mourning family
n pomelnicul verii, pe micul ecran, in summers summary, on the box,

balena albastr imatur i incapabil the blue whale, immature and incapable
s se descurce n traficul din Ocean of finding its way in Ocean traffic
i adolescentele care nu voiau s poarte vl musulman, and the teenagers who didnt want to wear the Muslim veil
dei tatl lor (cu dou neveste distribuite demult though their father (with two wives cast a long time before
n dou roluri utile sub acelai acoperi) to play two useful roles under the same roof)
le-ameninase cu moartea, had threatened them with death,
i unesc vocile acuznd ciocnirea civilizaiilor joined their voices accusing the clash of civilizations
din Vancouver pn-n deprtatul Kabul. from Vancouver to the faraway Kabul.
Elena tefoi
ntre dou canale Between Two Canals
Am crescut trgnd cu urechea la povetile despre canal I grew up eavesdropping on stories about the canal
adic despre teroare, munc silnic, suferin, that is about terror, forced labour, suffering,
victime i cli, nimicnicie i eroism, mutilri victims and executioners, vanity and heroism, mutilations
i oroare, dispariie i trdri. Generaia bunicilor notri and horror, disappearance and treason.
trise decenii la rnd cu spaima acestui cuvnt, fiecare adult Our grandparents generation
tremurnd c vreo goril strin i va bate ntr-o noapte la u had lived for decades on end with a fear of this word, each
ca s-l trimit s sape n stnc, alturi de ali condamnai. adult
Prinii vorbeau mult dar n oapt despre vremea aceea, trembling that some foreign gorilla
iar copiii crora le-am fost fr voia mea profesoar would knock on their door one night
n-aveau voie s pun-ntrebri despre ce-a fost la canal, to send them to dig rock, together with other convicts.
dei nu preau c au traume de pzit. Ct despre mine, Our parents were talking a lot but in a whisper about that
ca s m pot lecui, a trebuit s descopr canalul Rideau, time
aproape la btrnee, ntr-o zi trzie de toamn, and the children whose teacher I had been unwillingly
mult dup ce scpasem, din ntmplare, cobai norocos, were not allowed to ask questions about what had happened
din flcile odioasei istorii. A fost un salt at the canal
ntr-un loc cu lumin, loc cu verdea, sinonim though they didnt seem to have traumas to guard. As for
cu micarea perpetu, cu bucuria de via, myself,
cu celestele muzici, cu pacea care alin to be able to heal, I had to discover the Rideau canal,
gazd de croaziere, scen pentru concerte, when almost old, on a late autumn day,
Elena tefoi
sal pentru licitaii n scop caritabil, concursuri, baluri, long after I had escaped, by chance, a lucky guinea pig,
proiecii istorice. Fiine de toate vrstele, culorile, rasele, from the jaws of odious history. It had been a leap
alearg pe marginea lui sau pe pojghia gheii into a luminous place, a place with greenery, synonymous
nduind fericit spre propriile lor orizonturi with perpetual motion, with the joy of life,
pe patine, pe rotile, pe schiuri, pe biciclete, n landouri, n les. with celestial music, with soothing peace
N-am pe nimeni alturi cu care s-mprtesc host of cruises, stage for concerts,
diferena de triri i cunoatere, dar tiu de pe-acum hall for charitable auctions, contests, balls,
c-n ziua n care mi va fi dat s-mi aez perna de veci historical projections. People of all ages, colours, races,
peste oasele celor nspimntai de canalul din Brgan, are running along its embankments or on the crust of ice
partea cea bun din mine se va ntoarce la Ottawa, happily sweating towards their own horizons
mcar pentr-un ceas, s zburde, cu ochii n soare, on skates, on rollers, on bicycles, in prams, on a leash.
mpcat cu toi i cu toate, de-a lungul canalului. Theres no one near me with whom to share
the difference of feelings and knowledge but I already know
that the day destined for me to lay my pillow for ever
over the bones of those horrified by the canal from Brgan,
the best part of me will return to Ottawa,
at least for an hour, to run with my eyes in the sun,
at peace with all and everything, along the canal.
Elena tefoi
Pe un singur bilet On a Single Ticket
n ptratul albastru In the blue square

de lng fntna Strathcona near Strathcona fountain,
fraii mei care n-au tiut niciodat my brothers who had never known
cum e s te zbengui ntr-un bazin de not how it is to have fun in a swimming pool
se alearg unul pe altul, doi precolari slbnogi are chasing each other, two slim pre-school kids
nconjurai de tot felul de odrasle multicolore surrounded by all kinds of many-coloured children
pe margine se amestec graiuri i dialecte dialects and vernaculars mingle on the margin
mama se odihnete pe-o bncu de lemn, mother rests on a wooden bench,

cu faa la nitoare, palid i atent facing the fountain, pale and attentive
la jocul bieilor ei, at her sons game,
pe dig, nclat n cizme de cauciuc on the embankment, wearing rubber boots
aa cum pleca i venea de la cmp as he used to leave and return from the fields
tata hrnete stolul de rae father feeds the flock of ducks
(am citit undeva c aceste psri triesc (Ive read somewhere that these birds live
numai n cuplu i nu se despart niciodat, only in couples and never part,
e drept c pe apele de la Ottawa and its true that in the waters at Ottawa
n-am vzut dect rae perechi I have seen only pairs of loons
Elena tefoi
urmndu-se una pe alta sau lunecnd following each other or gliding

n linie dreapt, cu aceeai vitez, in a straight line, at the same speed,
dei, cnd vin la mal, se amestec neselectiv though, when coming to the bank, they mingle unselectively
cu alte familii i specii) with other families and species)
de-a lungul rului, n sus i n jos, along the river, up and down,
vslete sufletul meu, de straj my soul is rowing, on guard
acestui col de pmnt for this corner of the world
trebuie s-i in aproape pe toi ai mei I have to keep close all my beloved ones
ieri unul dintre ei culegea suntoare yesterday one of them was picking all-saints-wort
pe malul dinspre Vanier, de unde se vede on the Vanier bank from where one can see
biserica Sfntul Petru i Pavel St. Peter and Paul church
ca de pe dealul de-acas, like from the hill at home,
al doilea venea cu un pete mare n brae the second was coming from under Saint Nicholas Bridge
de sub podul Saint Nicholas cum altdat holding a big fish the same as once
din rul Moldovei, from Moldova river,
cel de-al treilea se legna n scrnciobul the third was rocking on a swing
de la ieirea spre strada Range, at the exit to Range Street,
lundu-i prea mare avnt taking too much impetus
cum de-attea ori l vzusem n spatele curii the way Id seen him so many times in the back yard
i m temeam c-o s cad, and was afraid he might fall,
iar ultimul plecat urmrea nc and the last gone was still watching
prin tufiul dintre Hurdmann i gar in the bushes between Hurdsman and the railway station
Elena tefoi
o cprioar care ne tiase calea a deer who had crossed our path
la poala pdurii, n urm cu jumtate de veac at the edge of the woods, half a century ago
ast noapte, printre tunete, tonight, among thunders,

nlndu-se la geam din ropotul ploii, rising at the window from the patter of rain,
dar i din receptorul nemicat de pe noptier but also from the still receiver on the night table
o voce atotputernic m-a ntrebat a powerful voice has asked me
ct vreme cred eu for how long I think
c vom mai putea totui trece Oceanul we could still cross the Ocean
toi cinci cu acelai bilet de cltorie all five of us on a single ticket
Elena tefoi
Pe strada Wilbrod, ntr-o smbt dimineaa On Wilbrod Street, One Saturday Morning
Aici, n casa aceasta care nu-mi aparine Here, in this house I do not own
i despre care se spune c-a fost o capel, and about which they say had been a chapel,
m-am mutat pentru patru ani, ca la internat, I moved in for four years, as in a hostel,
crnd dup mine bagajul unui necredincios carrying with me the luggage of a nonbeliever
care-i dorea cu disperare s-nvie who wanted desperately to resurrect
abia la nceputul ultimei veri only at the beginning of the last summer
cnd m pregteam sufletete when I was preparing in my mind
s-o las urmtorului ei locatar to leave it to its next tenant
m-am trezit ntr-o smbt dimineaa I woke up one Saturday morning
vorbind cu scnteuele clopoeii talking to the pimpernels bluebells
lcrmioarele i colunaii de sub fereastr wood lilies and violets from under my window
aceleai flori din grdina the same flowers as in the garden
pe care-am deschis de fapt ochii upon which I had actually opened my eyes
odat cu dezgheul poststalinist at the same time with the post-Stalinist thaw
i pe care vzul meu nu le bgase n seam and whom my sight hasnt noticed
nicicnd niciunde din clipa ever and anywhere since then
cnd srisem sprinten n cru s plec when Id jumped nimbly in the cart to leave
la internatul liceului for the boarding house of the high school
Elena tefoi
a fi chiuit precum nuntaii cheflii I would have hollered like merry wedding guests
dar mama hohotea cu nframa la ochi, but mother was sobbing covering her eyes with her kerchief,
de parc m-ar fi vzut as if she had seen me
ntins pe nslie lying on the bier
fraii mei au nchis din dou pri my brothers closed from both sides
n urma noastr poarta cea mare the large gate after us
i au rmas n spatele gardului and remained behind the fence
pe drum timp de cteva ceasuri on the road for several hours

mama m-a cinat ndelung mother lamented at length over me
spunndu-mi n fel i chip telling me in every possible way
ct de grea mi va fi viaa printre strini how difficult my life would be among strangers
lsndu-m s-neleg c orict minte a fi avut letting me understand that as much brains as I had
tot voi fi nvins i pclit still I would be vanquished and cheated
i c norocul meu e la noi n vecini and that my luck was at home in our neighbourhood
cu vreun biat pe care chiar ea mi-l menise with some lad she had herself chosen for me
m-a fi putut ntreba care pe care I couldve asked myself which of the two of us
o ducea n felul acesta la groap was thus taking the other to the burial ground
dar din bocceaua care-mi inea loc de valiz but from the bundle I had instead of a suitcase
mi se prea c uniformei mele de licean it appeared to me that my high school uniform
ncepuser s-i creasc gheare i coarne had begun to grow claws and horns
m-am ntors n fiecare vacan I returned each holiday

Elena tefoi
tristeea ei ngrdise demult her sadness had long ago enclosed

cu srm ghimpat livada din spatele casei with barbed wire the orchard behind the house
era sigur c m stricaser nu att oamenii she was sure that I had been spoiled not so much by the
ct mai degrab crile n care-adormeam people
noapte de noapte ca-ntr-o baie pervers but rather by the books in which I used to fall asleep
night by night like in a perverse bath
am prsit dup patru ani internatul acela after four years I left that boarding school
n care ea nsi m instalase in which she herself had installed me
plecnd de una singur mai departe leaving all alone to go farther
pentru ali patru ani la alt internat for another four years to another boarding school
dar n-a mai vrut s m-atepte but she hadnt wanted to wait for me
nici mcar pentru prima vacan not even for the first holiday
apucasem s-i spun c degeaba Id succeeded to tell her that it was in vain
mi pregtete lada de zestre for her to prepare my dowry chest
aflase c triesc n concubinaj cu literatura she had learned that I was living as literatures concubine
se ndoia c-a putea fi astfel fericit she doubted I could have been happy thus
mi-au spus c plecase c-un col de ziar they told me she left with a torn piece of newspaper
n care-mi vzuse numele tiprit in which she had seen my name printed
ascuns cu grij sub pern hidden carefully under her pillow
de-atunci i pn n acea smbt dimineaa since then and up to that Saturday morning
cnd aici pe Wilbrod fceam curenie when here on Wilbrod street I was cleaning
Elena tefoi
pentru mutarea definitiv for my final move

i am nceput s vorbesc and had begun to talk
cu scnteuele clopoeii lcrmioarele colunaii to the pimpernels bluebells wood lilies and violets
nu i-a fcut niciodat timp s mi treac she had never taken the time to cross
pe nepregtite i de-adevratelea pragul. unexpectedly, really, my threshold.
Elena tefoi
Periplu duminical Sunday Tour
Am fost i azi s dau binee protectorilor mei Ive gone to greet my protectors also today
ntrupai n diverse fpturi, obiecte, culori embodied in various creatures, objects, colours
sau forme de vegetaie or forms of vegetation
de-a lungul canalului i-a celor trei ruri along the canal and the three rivers
pe care de mai bine de-un veac le unete it has been uniting for more than a century
la plecare doi gemeni trgeau de-un picior at my departure a pair of twins were pulling by a leg
pianjenul uria din faa Galeriei de Art the huge spider in front of the Art Gallery
invitndu-l s se-adposteasc de ari inviting it to take refuge from the scorching heat
pn la toamn, vizavi, la Notre Dame till autumn, across the road, at Notre Dame
ntr-o carte de rugciuni in a prayer book
am pedalat de parc-a fi hlduit I pedaled as if I had been living

pentru vecie nhorbotat laced forever
pe-o pnz proaspt ieit din mna lui Boticelli on a canvas freshly issued from Botticellis hands
de pe Major Hill, pe podul Alexandra, down Major Hill, on Alexandra bridge
pe lng Lacul Povetilor, pe Champlain, by the Lake of Tales, on Champlain,
pe insula Reginei Victoria, la Cascad, la digul on Queen Victoria island, at the Waterfall, on the dam
din Parcul Stanley, prin Vanier, spre Strathcona, from Stanley Park, through Vanier, towards Strathcona,
Elena tefoi
la fntna salutat din pant, pe Range to the fountain greeted from the slope, on Range
de steagurile unor naii strvechi by the flags of some ancient nations
la asfinit mi venea s ngenunchez at sunset I felt like kneeling

pe treptele dinspre Laurier on the stairs on the Laurier side
ca n altarul de cununie like in front of a wedding altar
recunosctoare i fr de spaim grateful and fearless
gata s-mi asum ntreaga istorie ready to assume entire history
pn la moarte till death
Elena tefoi
Primvar trzie Late Spring
mi aud numele I hear my name

strigat pe cellalt mal shouted from the other bank
n cor de ntreaga familie in chorus by the whole family
unit ca la vreme de doliu united like in times of mourning
dar sufletul meu but my soul
opie nerbdtor jumps impatiently
spre lumina zilei towards the daylight
n placenta canadian in its Canadian placenta
i mintea mea chefuiete nc and my mind still feasts
n amintirea ultimului amurg in the memory of the last sunset
n culorile lui denate in its vivid colours
care-i cnt la harp that play the harp for it
sub aternuturi under my bed layers
Martie 2009 March 2009

Elena tefoi
Protect what you love Protect What You Love
La rdcina unui copac, At the root of a tree,

n Parcul Confederaiei, in Confederation Park,
dintr-un ghem de ln roie from a ball of red wool
firul se ridic pe trunchiul btrn the thread climbs the trunk of an old tree
mpletind un pulovr catifelat knitting a velvety pullover
elegant i nchis la toi nasturii, elegant and buttoned up,
pe-o ramur una din mneci e neterminat on a branch one of the sleeves is unfinished
asemeni proiectelor pentru care like the projects that need
e nevoie de nc un dram de efort, still another strain of effort,
de nc o suit de micri din andrele still another sequence of movements
ale Maicii lui Dumnezeu of the Blessed Mothers needles
n iarb cartea de vizit a unui a artist in the grass the visiting card
de care n-am auzit niciodat of an artist Id never heard of
ndemnnd trectorii s-nvee s protejeze urging passers-by to learn to protect
ceea ce le-a fost dat s iubeasc that which had been given them to love
Elena tefoi
Tablou de duminic Sunday Picture
Dup nopi i zile de ploaie After nights and days of rain

am vzut c dispruse masa din mijlocul rului I saw the table was missing from the middle of the river
pe care cu o sptmn n urm on which just a week ago
m rsfasem cu migdale i nuci I feasted on almonds and nuts
reuind s m desprind de trecut succeeding to detach myself from the past
am cobort n grab nelinitit I descended quickly uneasy

spre parcul Strathcona s vd ce i cum towards Strathcona Park to see whatd happened
spernd c cineva salvase totui hoping that still someone had saved
draga mea mas de lemn pe care m rugam my dear wooden table which I had prayed
s-o gsesc primitoare i liber to find hospitable and free
ori de cte ori plecam s m-ncarc de lumin whenever I went out to charge myself with light
m-am oprit n locul unde adesea I stopped at the spot where I had so often
mi scoteam nclrile s intru n ap taken off my shoes to enter the water
s m-ndrept spre propriul meu paradis to wend my way towards my personal paradise
lng mine netulburat o lebd neagr close to me undisturbed a black swan
ciugulea verdeaa mprosptat de ploaie was pecking the greenery refreshed by the rain
(se vedea clar c are gusturi precise (it was quite visible that it had precise tastes
Elena tefoi
alegea tacticos firele dup reguli tiute numai de ea) it was slowly selecting the grass blades
n larg nici urm de mas de laviele ei de pe laturi according to rules known only to it)
ori de postamentul din fier forjat in the river nothing to remind of the table
care le fixase o vreme la piciorul cascadei and the benches at its sides
doar valul bulbucat i ntunecos or the forged iron base
cum nu-l vzusem vreodat that once had fixed them to the foot of the waterfall
only a swollen and dark wave
as I had never seen it before
am ocolit parcul n plimbarea mea de rutin I went around the park on my routine stroll
pn dincolo la linia care unete till beyond the line that unites
malul din dreapta cu malul din stnga the right bank with the left one
desprind pe vertical curgerea apei dividing vertically the water flow
n dou planuri distincte into two distinct planes
(pe cel de sus trec uneori oamenii dintr-o parte n alta (on the upper part now and then people pass from one side
n cel de jos se scufund uneori stoluri naripate) to the other
on the lower one winged flocks dive sometimes)
pe aleea familiar on the familiar alley

exact n punctul n care de obicei exactly on the spot where I used to watch
priveam cascada cu faa la asfinit the waterfall with my face turned towards the sunset
mi-a tiat calea perechea lebedei negre my path was crossed by the mate of the black swan
pe care-o lsasem vizavi ocupat cu alegerea ierbii I had left opposite busy with selecting grass blades
Elena tefoi
m-am oprit s-i fac loc I stopped to make way

gndidu-m c poate are s-mi spun ceva thinking that maybe it had something to tell me
m-a ignorat traversnd legnat he ignored me crossing with a swinging gait
spre pajitea de alturi unde pe-o ptur la doi pai towards a neighbouring lawn where on a plaid close by
lua prnzul o familie tnr a young couple were having their lunch
atent doar la o ppu care-ncepuse s gngureasc paying attention only to a puppet that started prattle
n braele unui brbat din generaia mea in the arms of a man of my generation
pasrea s-a oprit la marginea pturii the bird stopped at the end of the plaid
cerind elegant cu ochii nflcrai totui de ateptare elegantly begging but with his eyes still sparkling in
ciocul su avea culoarea frunzelor de arar expectation
imprimate pe ervetul de pe colul plin cu bucate his beak had the colour of maple leaves
printed on a napkin from the corner covered by victuals
am rmas nemicat m pregteam s vorbesc I stayed still preparing to speak

ntr-una din cele dou limbi ale locului in one of the two languages of the place
i s spun c tare mi-ar fi plcut and say how much I would have liked
s pstrez ntr-o poz momentul acesta to preserve in a picture this moment
tocmai fiindc nu l-a fi putut inventa vreodat exactly because I couldnt have ever invented it
dar chiar atunci cu accent moldovean but right then with Moldavian accent
i cu vocea molcom and the soft voice
a celui care m srutase prima dat n via of the one who had kissed me for the first time in my life
n curtea colii noastre elementare in the courtyard of our primary school
Elena tefoi
brbatul care-i inea nepoata n brae the man who was holding in his arms his granddaughter
a rostit grijuliu n romn ncet, tataie, ncet uttered carefully in Romanian ncet, tataie, ncet
lebdoiul s-a cabrat de mirare the swan cock pranced in surprise

i s-a ntors ntrebtor nspre mine and turned to me questioningly
am amuit speriat zmbetul mi-a pierit Id lost my voice in fright and my smile vanished
n-avea desigur nici un mesaj s-mi transmit he had certainly no message to convey to me
eu n-aveam pentru el nici o firimitur de pine I had no morsel of bread for him
am plecat mai departe I went farther

fr s privesc napoi without looking back
i fr s neleg dect mult mai trziu and not understanding then, only much later,
c din tabloul acela att de real that in that so vivid a picture
mi regizasem n grab netiutoare I had staged in haste unknowingly
cu decenii n urm absena decades ago my absence
Elena tefoi
napoi, de pe marginea negurii Back, from Darknesss Brink
Afar, pe crivul luminos Outdoors, in the luminous icy wind

nu eram dect eu: I was all by myself:
m-am agat de fiecare contur clinging to each contour
de pancarte inscripii indicatoare to posters road signs
de stlpul din fa to the pillar in front of me
de culorile de la stop to the colours of the traffic lights
de sigla de pe maina poliiei to the plate of the police car
parcat civa metri mai sus parked a few meters above
de Flacra venic the Eternal Flame
toate acestea alctuiau un ntreg all these were forming a whole

care-mi ddea siguran lending me security
hrnindu-mi gndul c nu m voi pierde nourishing my thought that I wouldnt be lost
le adunam laolalt I was gathering them
erau poala mamei they were mothers lap
de pe vremea cnd ncepeam from a time when I began
s tnjesc dup prima form de echilibru to yearn for the first form of balance
erau scrnciobul n care ar fi trebuit they were the crib in which I should have
s plutesc urmnd sfatul experilor floated according to the experts advice
Elena tefoi
n tehnici de auto-ajutorare in self-help

erau fragmente solide ale minunii they were solid fragments of the wonder
oscioarele ordonate i aductoare de sens the ordered little bones bearers of meaning
ale atoatetmduitorului bra of the all-healing arm
care m trsese de pe marginea negurii which had withdrawn me from darknesss brink
napoi n peisajul familiar back to the familiar landscape
n crivul de dinaintea Crciunului in the icy wind before Christmas
pe care-l simeam pentru prima oar n via which I felt for the first time in life
catifelat nvluitor amniotic enveloping velvety amniotic
Elena tefoi
Despre pescruul de la Cernica About the Cernica Seagull
Spre crucea amiezii am poposit About midday I stopped

la marginea lacului, pe colul lui linitit near the lake shore, on its silent edge
nainte de Mooneys Bay before Mooneys Bay
pe-o piatr oval m atepta on an oval stone waiting for me

pescruul pe care l-am vzut amndoi the kingfisher we had seen together
nepotrivit i uitndu-se-n zare out of place and scrutinizing the horizon
pe grl, lng mnstirea Cernica, on the brook, near Cernica monastery,
ntr-un august, cu decenii n urm, one August, decades ago,
la vreo trei ani de cnd plecasem la drum about three years since
tu te-ai ales atunci c-un peisaj dup natur we had gone on the road
i eu c-un poem despre ultimul prieten that day your gain was
care ne lsase orfani a landscape painting after nature
and mine was a poem about the last friend
who had left us orphaned
s-a mutat mai ncolo, pe-o piatr mai mic it moved further, on a smaller stone
fcndu-mi loc s m bucur de soare leaving place for me to enjoy the sunshine
s-mi legn tlpile n zbaterea valului, to let my soles swing in the rocking wave,
Elena tefoi
n jurul meu frumuseea i ajungea sie nsei the beauty around me was self-sufficient
asemeni mitralierelor conservate like the machine guns preserved
din primul rzboi mondial from the first world war
n loc luminos n loc cu verdea, in a luminous place with greenery,
n-avea nici un gnd pentru victime it had no thought for the victims
i nici o plecciune pentru eroi and no bow for the heroes
pe mal i n ap oameni i psri on the shore and in the water people and birds
cu tot felul de aripi armonice with all kinds of harmonious wings
cu torele veniciei n glasuri with the torches of eternity in their voices
cu lampadare sub piele with lantern under skin
nici un cimitir n raza privirii no churchyard in view

aa cum avusesem amndoi la Cernica like we had both of us at Cernica
n ziua aceea de august that day in August
te-am descoperit la un moment dat suddenly I discovered you

n stnga, pe pajite on my left, on the lawn
dnd trcoale cearafului circling around my bath sheet
m-ai fixat cu speran dar nehotrt you eyed me with hope but irresolute
apoi mi-ai fcut o singur dat then waved once as if greeting
semne cu mna ca i cum ai fi salutat the pleasure boats
ambarcaiunile de plcere on the lake on my right
din dreapta mea de pe lac I didnt answer, you came closer only an hour later
Elena tefoi
nu i-am rspuns, te-ai apropiat abia peste-un ceas under some pretext
sub un pretext oarecare careful but in a way offensive in a single question,
grijuliu dar cumva ofensiv dintr-o singur ntrebare, I couldnt recognize anything from what Id once liked
nimic din ce-mi plcuse altdat nu puteam recunoate I asked you to let me enjoy
te-am rugat s m lai s m bucur the loneliness of this place where I seldom come,
de singurtate n acest loc n care vin rareori, you returned to your bath sheet
te-ai ntors pe cearaful tu cutting mercilessly the scared flock of wild geese
tind fr mil stolul speriat de gte slbatice
m-am ridicat de pe piatr mult dup ce disprusei I got off the stone a long time after you had disappeared
pescruul i-a reluat locul ca la comand the kingfisher resumed its place as if on command
urma s m-nvluie acolo sub soarele zilei there under the sunshine of the day expecting to envelop me
seara n care fusesem cu adevrat o pereche was the evening when we had been a couple
i n care, aproape de miezul nopii, and when, close to midnight,
ne-a deteptat un cutremur puternic we were awoken by a powerful earthquake
pe care nici unul din noi n-avea s-l uite vreodat that neither of us was to ever forget
Elena tefoi
Odat i-odat In the Long Run
O lume nou nepstoare n inut de gal An indifferent new world in gala dress
se duce de rp sear de sear goes to the dogs each night
o alta grbovit i peticit, another one bent backed and patched,
nc plin de vnti, mndr de ele, still full of bruises, proud of them,
se-arunc n ring la prima or a dimineii throws itself on the rink at daybreak
cu gndul c vei veni odat i-odat with the thought that in the long run youll come
s-i aterni la picioare covorul rou, to spread under its feet the red carpet,
s-i aezi pe frunte coronia de-nvingtor to set on its brow the victors coronet
Elena tefoi
n zare, pe calea ferat In the Distance, on the Railroad
A plouat toat ziua i toat noaptea. It has rained all day and all night.
Un tren de marf a trecut ncolo i-ncoace A freight train has passed back and forth
de sute de ori de ieri pn azi hundreds of times since yesterday
peste povetile n care-am crezut mpreun over the tales in which we had believed in together
ntr-o alt via a noastr pe-o alt planet n criz. in another life on another planet in crisis.
Le-a fcut zob, le-a adncit n pmnt, le-a nfundat It has crushed them, pushed them into the earth,
n urechile viermilor. Nu mi-era dor stuffed them into the worms ears. I had longed
de nici una din ele, nici de felul tu grijuliu for neither of them, nor for your careful way
de a-mi aduce buchete de tufnele frumos colorate of bringing me bunches of nicely coloured chrysanthemums
cum aduci bomboane unui copil. n zare like bringing candies to a child. In the distance
pe calea ferat, febril i gtit on the railroad, feverish and adorned
de balul Anului Nou, se aezase de-asear, for a New Years ball, under the autumn rain,
de-a curmeziul, sub ploaia de toamn, my anguish more and more torn from the world,
suferina mea din ce n ce mai rupt de lume, more and more self-content.
din ce n ce mai mpcat cu sine.
Elena tefoi
Recitiri Rereadings
ntr-o zi ceoas n care On a misty day on which

ar trebui s pot celebra I should be able to celebrate
vindecarea demonizatului the healing of the demonized
dau din ntmplare I have come by chance
peste-o reflecie colateral upon a collateral reflection
despre femeia adevrat about the authentic woman
(amestec de dulcea, (a mixture of sweetness,
amrciune, umor i destin) bitterness, humour and destiny)
sunt gata s m nchin acestei reflecii I am ready to bow to this reflection

precum restul poporului like the rest of the people
la moatele Sfntului Dumitru cel Mare in front of the relics of Saint Dumitru the Great
ntorcndu-i ochiul sarcastic dar orb turning away his sarcastic but blind eye
de-attea lenevii agitate due to so many agitated forms of idleness
de la minunea pe care altcineva from the miracle which someone else
i-o tot nghesuie-n traist had been pushing into his knapsack
privind ns c-un ochi hipercapabil s vad but looking with an eye hyper-capable to see
s preuiasc s vnd la trguri globale to appreciate to sell at global fairs
pe zacusc podoabe miere i vin on pickled fish trinkets and wine
tot felul de dezbateri televizate all kinds of televised debates
Elena tefoi
despre cine i cum ar putea s-l salveze about who and how it could save him
nu mi-e dor de nimeni i de nimic I dont yearn for anyone and anything
nv zilnic cte ceva despre moarte learning each day something about death
cum a nva nc o limb strin as if learning a foreign language
Ottawa 24 octombrie 2009 Ottawa, 24 October 2009

Elena tefoi
rn, cri i protocol Earth, Books and Protocol
Zi dup zi din mori m scol Day after day I rise from the dead
s-i dau dau sfritului ocol to circle around my very end
din curtea mamei pe Wilbrod from mothers courtyard on Wilbrod Street
tot car i car acelai glod keep carrying the same earth plot
tlpi de Sisif bra de Irod soles of Sisyphus arm of Herod
din zori boroi apus nerod big-bellied dawns and sunset crazed
se nate-n vastul episod born in the last episode waste
la lumnare-i ntind pod building a bridge in candle light
l-ntmpin i-i aduc obol to wait and worship through the night
curajul spaimei cri i protocol courage from fear books and protocol
Elena tefoi
Un nou nceput A New Beginning
Mcar poezia s aib nevoie At least poetry should need

de-aceast singurtate: this solitude:
rsritul i asfinitul aranjate buci sunrise and sunset arranged in pieces
pe masa de protocol, on the table of protocol,
jurmintele tale despre care oaspeii mei your vows about which my guests
nu vor ti niciodat nimic would never know anything
mucnd precum erpii fantastici biting like fantastic serpents
de sub ervetele dantelate from under laced napkins
printre porelanuri i lumnri, among chinaware and candles,
vechile mele spaime my former fears
plutind n culori speciale float in special colours
peste locul acesta din care lipseti over this place from which you are missing
i ridicndu-se fr remucare la cer and remorselessly rise to heaven
sub puterea unui toast cumpnit under the power of a balanced toast
Elena tefoi
Canadian Haiku
nc o zi One Day More
Singur de tot Alone, on her own,

Minunea nate prunci vii Miracle gives living birth
n zori, din nimic At dawn, out of nothing
Trziu, pe tcute Late, in Silence
Schimb-te, schimb Change yourself, change

Vrtejul nepoleit This undisguised tempest
Cel de pe urm The very last one
Elena tefoi
Eterna poveste Eternal Story
Poemul nescris, Poem never written,

Ptima, carismatic Passionate, charismatic
Al meu Ft Frumos My own Prince Charming
ntre noi pentru totdeauna Forever between Us
Spaima trdrii Fearing betrayal

Mitralier veche An antiquated machine gun
Pe metereze On the battlements
O singur amintire Only a Souvenir
Mi-ai cntat n somn You sang as I slept

irul vieilor mele The long column of my lives
Pleca la rzboi Went marching to war
Elena tefoi
Despre noi doi About Us Two
N-a fost s fie It wasnt meant to be

Ruginit, malign Rusted over and malign,
ansa pierdut The chance that slipped away
Frate i sor, ca noi Brother and Sister, like Us
M-mbrbteaz The twin cherry trees

Cireii gemeni la geam At the window encourage me
Orfani nrodii Fruitful orphans
Pe Canalul Rideau On Rideau Canal
Pe luciul apei On still, glassy water

Talpa dumnezeirii The Deitys footfalls
Aprinde scntei Strike fireworks
Elena tefoi
Pentru c te-am iubit Because I Loved You
Surd i chioar Deaf and blind

Vechea mea suferin My ancient suffering
Cnt la harp Plucks the harp strings
n tcerea apusului In the Silence of Sunset
Se-aude deja You can already hear

La trap, n zale, vuind The clip-clops of tomorrow
Ziua de mine Galloping in armor
Fr de pereche Unpaired
Groaznic eecul The terrible failure

Celui Atotputernic Of the Almighty Lord
Femei singure Lonely women
Elena tefoi
Despre trecerea timpului About Times Passing
Dintr-un secundar From the second hand

Din zori pn seara From daybreak till eventide
Picur snge Drops of blood drip, drip
Od uitrii Ode to Oblivion
Amintirea ta My memory of you

Numrtoare la zid Threetwoone against the wall,
i glon irosit The squandered bullet
Primvar trzie Late Spring
Infloresc teii Lindens in blossom

n ochii ciclonului In the eye of a cyclone
Doar eu i apr I alone defend them
Elena tefoi
Fr scpare Nowhere to Run
M ncercuie An abandoned world

O lume de lepdat Is belted tight around me
Vemnt de for My straitjacket
Duminic n Parcul Maiorului Sunday in Majors Park
Se nal un zmeu A kite soars above

Din mini de ndrgostii From the hands of two lovers
ef peste ngeri Boss of the angels
Primvar la Ottawa Ottawa Spring
Mri de lalele A sea of tulips

Babilon al culorii This Babylon of colors
n plin Festival At Festival time
Elena tefoi
De cnd m-ai trdat When You Betrayed Me
n patul nostru The true masterpiece

A nchis ochii pe veci Has forever closed its eyes
Capodopera In our shared bed
La 1000 de insule At 1000 Islands
Stoluri flmnde Hungry flocks of birds

Semnele crizei n jur Signs of crisis everywhere
Copii n extaz Ecstatic children
Tablou biografic Biographical Tableau
Totul e parte Everything is part of

Dintr-un ntreg imprecis An imprecise whole
Sigur ca moartea As certain as death
Elena tefoi
Information
about the Poet
Poeta Elena tefoi s-a nscut la 19 iulie 1954, ntr-o The poet Elena tefoi was born in a peasant family in
familie de rani din Boroaia, judeul Suceava. A urmat liceul Romania, near Suceava, on 19 July 1954. She went to school in
n Flticeni, iar apoi Facultatea de Filosofie a Universitii Flticeni, and then studied Philosophy at Bucharest University
din Bucureti, ntre anii 1976 i 1980. i-a luat doctoratul n between the years 1976 and 1980. She took her PhD in
filosofie la Universitatea Bucureti n anul 2005. Philosophy in 2005.
nainte de a intra la Universitate a lucrat trei ani ca Before studying Philosophy she was a worker in a factory
muncitoare la fabrica de conserve din Popeti-Leordeni. A for three years. After graduation she taught in a village school.
revenit n aceeai comun dup absolvire, ca profesoar. n In 1987 she was hired as proofreader by the Romanian
anul 1987 a intrat corector la ziarul Contemporanul. magazine Contemporanul.
Dup anul 1989 a lucrat ca redactor pentru revistele After the fall of comunism in 1989, she was editor of the
Contrapunct i Dilema. A colaborat la posturile de radio Romanian magazines Contrapunct and Dilema. She also worked
Europa Liber i Radio France International. as correspondent for Radio Free Europe and Radio France
Internationale.
Elena tefoi
n anul 1999 a fost numit consul general al Romniei la She was Consul Genreal in Montreal between 1999 and
Montreal. ntre anii 2005 i 2012 a fost ambasador al 2000. Between 2005 and 2012 she was Romanias Ambassador
Romniei n Canada. to Canada.
Poeta a publicat nou volume de poezie, printre care Elena tefoi is the author of nine books of poetry, among
Linia de plutire (1983), Schie i povestiri (1989), Alinierea la start which The Waterline (1983), Drafts and Stories (1989), The Starting
(1996), Raport de etap (2011), n urma nvingtorilor (2005), Line (1996), Interim Report (2011), Behind the Conquerors (2005),
Somewhere in a Different Realm/ Undeva, ntr-un alt plan (texte Somewhere in a Different Realm/ Undeva, ntr-un alt plan (parallel
paralele, traduse n limba englez de Adam J. Sorkin i Liana texts, translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Liana Vrajitoru, 2008).
Vrajitoru, 2008). Her poems have appeared in anthologies such as Child of
Poeme de Elena tefoi au aprut n antologii, printre Europe (Penguin Books, London, 1990), Young Poets of a New
care Child of Europe (Penguin Books, London, 1990), Young Romania (Forest Books, London 1990), An Anthology of Romanian
Poets of a New Romania (Forest Books, London 1990), An Women Poets (Columbia University Press, N.Y., 1994).
Anthology of Romanian Women Poets (Columbia University
Press, N.Y., 1994).
Elena tefoi
Information about the Translator
Ana Olos, born in Timioara, educated in her Nscut la Timioara, cu studii n oraul natal i la
native town and at the university of Cluj, is an universitatea din Cluj, Ana Olos este cercettor literar
independent scholar, translator, and writer. She independent, traductoare i scriitoare. Deine un doctorat
holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature (1978) and n Literatur Comparat (1978). Are studii masterale n
an MA in Human Rights (2000). Before retiring, she domeniul Drepturilor Omului (2000). nainte de a se
taught English and Canadian Literature at the retrage din activitate, a fost profesor de Literaturi
Faculty of Arts, North University of Baia Mare. She anglofone i de Studii Canadiene la Facultatea de Litere a
founded the Canadian Studies Centre there(1998). Universitii de Nord din Baia Mare, unde a nfiinat
Centrul de Studii Canadiene (1998).
Elena tefoi
Information about the Illustrator
Cristina Ioana Young practises Cristina Ioana Young este medic

Ophthalmology in the South of oftalmolog n Sudul Franei.
France. Pe lng profesia de medic,
She is also interested in painting, picteaz, fotografiaz i scrie proz i
photography and writing. poezie.
Elena tefoi

Elena Stefoi. Poems. Bilingual

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Elena tefoi

A Grammar of the Tower of Babel

Translated into English by Edited by

The University of Bucharest

Subediting: Irina Boroi, Alexandru Tudor

A Grammar of the Tower of Babel

Translated into English by Edited by

Lidia Vianu: The Americans Were Coming. Canadele existenei. p. 4

A Grammar of the Tower of Babel. Gramatica Turnului Babel

New Year. An nou p. 7

On Another Time Zone, in Another Story. Pe alt fus, n alt poveste p. 28

Eternal Story. Eterna poveste p. 69

Information about the poet p. 75

Canadele existenei The Americans Were Coming...

Bucureti, 18 June 2014

A Grammar of the Tower of Babel

An nou New Year

Afiniti elective Elective Affinities

stalinist, under the altar screen,

Echilibru de inukuk Inukshuk Equilibrium

n susul i-n josul prului giving way to some luxury yachts

n hamacul propriului nceput In the Hammock of My Own Beginnings

La poala colinei parlamentare At the foot of Parliament Hill

m-au salutat soldete ca la comand they saluted me soldierly as if ordered

am plecat mai departe, crnd n spinare I walked away, carrying on my back

n laul luminii de var In the Noose of Summer Light

Pericol de circ Circus-like danger

din coarnele lui izbucnete an ardent symphony pours

spre mal pe Canalul Rideau and they slide fearfully beautiful

ntlniri la Muzeul Civilizaiilor Meetings at the Museum of Civilizations

O flacr nenfricat A fearless flame

pe pajite, la doi pai, on the green, close by,

nainte i dup furtun Before and After the Storm

Sub tunet i fulgere Under thunder and lightning

n spatele Curii Supreme behind the Supreme Court

n-a czut pictur de ploaie no drop of rain had fallen

Leciile Turului Nordic Lessons of the Northern Tour

flori mpietrite petrified flowers

o, Doamne, ieri m rugam O, Lord, yesterday I was praying

spre rmul Oceanului towards the Ocean shore

vetedul sim al proprietii the withered sense of property

pmntul metalic the metallic soil

de la un hangar la altul from one hangar to another

iunie 2007 June 2007

Pastel estival pe Canalul Rideau Summer Watercolor on Rideau Canal

o parte din mine orcie a part of myself squeals like babies

pe mas m ateptau fixate n pioneze on a table fixed with thumbtacks

ntmpltoare mi se preau all the little signs

Pe alt fus, n alt poveste On Another Time Zone, in Another Story

nchipuindu-i neodihnit i nenfrnat restlessly and ceaselessly imagining

Reportaj n preerii Reporting from the Prairies

Spre grania de nord-vest a Canadei, Towards Canadas north-western border

pierdut pe-o colin nspre Kayville, lost on a hill towards Kayville,

m duc la centenarul unei biserici I am going to a the centennial of a church

Regina, Iunie 2008 Regina, June 2008

Toamn canadian Canadian Autumn

Nori luminoi frunzi mieriu Luminous clouds honey-like foliage

culori elixiruri amprente divine colors elixirs divine imprints

Zi de septembrie September Day

Rubinie lumin de asfinit Ruby sunset light

m opresc n grdina japonez Zen I stop at the Japanese Zen garden

m scald n ngduina solstiiului I bathe in the lenience of the solstice

din cap pn-n picioare from head to toe

asemeni unui binecuvntat portativ like a blessed score