Love Poem: Jaun Elia Translations
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Written by: Michael Burch

Jaun Elia Translations

I am strange—so strange
that I self-destructed and don't regret it.
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

The wound is deep—companions, friends—embrace me!
What, did you not even bother to stay?
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

My nature is so strange
that today I felt relieved when you didn't arrive.
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

Night and day I awaited myself;
now you return me to myself.
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

Greeting me this cordially,
have you so easily
erased my memory?
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

Your lips have provided thousands of answers;
so what is the point of complaining now?
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

Perhaps I haven't fallen in love with anyone, 
but at least I convinced them!
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch

The city of mystics has become bizarre:
everyone is wary of majesty, have you heard? 
—Jaun Elia, translation by Michael R. Burch



Nuclear Winter: Solo Restart
by Michael R. Burch

Out of the ashes
a flower emerges
and trembling bright sunshine
bathes its scorched stem,
but how will this flower
endure for an hour
the rigors of winter
eternal and grim
without men?



Momentum! Momentum!
by Michael R. Burch

for the neo-Cons 

Crossing the Rubicon, we come!
Momentum! Momentum! Furious hooves!
The Gauls we have slaughtered, no man disapproves.
War’s hawks shrieking-strident, white doves stricken dumb.

Coo us no cooings of pale-breasted peace!
Momentum! Momentum! Imperious hooves!
The blood of barbarians brightens our greaves.
Pompey’s head in a basket? We slumber at ease.

Seduce us again, great Bellona, dark queen!
Momentum! Momentum! Curious hooves
Now pound out strange questions, but what can they mean
As the great stallions rear and their riders careen?

Published by Bewildering Stories

Bellona was the Roman goddess of war. The name "Bellona" derives from the Latin word for "war" (bellum), and is linguistically related to the English word "belligerent" (literally, "war-waging"). In earlier times she was called Duellona, that name being derived from a more ancient word for "battle" relating to our “duel.” 


Keywords/Tags: Jaun Elia, couplets, Urdu, translation, nature, strange, strangeness, love, memory, wound, self-destructed, self-destruction, regret, city, mystics, mystery, companions, friends, associates, love, alien, alienation