Miroslav Antić – Nikada više…

Nikada,
Nikada više neću umeti
da sebe ovako razmenim u sitniš
a da ništa ne ištem.

Odjednom,
ja sam klimavo stepenište
po kojem kičmena moždina u čoporu,
od lobanje
do tabana
muče i pada glavačke.

Odjednom,
ja sam tako užasno star,
star sa tim šapama što traže nekog
i vrište.

Odjednom,
ja sam tako užasno smešan
kao propalo putujuće pozorište.
I osramoćen
kao manastir posle silovanja i pljačke.

English Translation

Never Again

Never,
Never again will I be able
to exchange myself, like this, for small change
without asking anything in return.

All of a sudden,
I’m a wobbly stairway
over which spinal cord, in herd*
from the scull
to soles,
is mooing and falling headfirst.

All of a sudden,
I’m so terribly old,
old with the paws that are reaching out for someone
and screaming.

All of a sudden,
I’m so terribly funny
like a traveling theatre.
And disgraced
Like a monastery after rape and robbery.