Lidija Nikčević: Stanica

Great Britain

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

FRANCE

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Germany

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Italia

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Albania

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Poland

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Russia

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Slovakia

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Sweden

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

Slovenija

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs

North Macedonia

THE SHIPWRECK’S MIRROR

I

(A NOT IN THE LEAST GLORIOUS DEATH)

 

It is the same on the other side of the road, you think.

It is same there, on the open sea

where you once thought that life

had proximity. But this you will never feel so

as you will never know

the invisible breadth of Middle Europe

or any twillight on the Eastern coast.

Everywhere in the world it is invariably

the same — there where lives are brought to an end.

Every morning seems yours — unhappy

participation in life. And every end

of the day is the same, as when you dive into sleep:

your not in the least glorious death.

And here you are just temporarily — in the world.

 

III

(FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER)

 

You’re going from one place to another,

but, in truth, you’re not really going anywhere. Your current

state you know not how to name.

(Pitful these things emptied of naming!)

You discover no lands, encounter no new worlds,

even the existing you do not use as you would wish.

Increasingly, the days seem like woman’s idleness.

As this is story that has already been told,

and as all stories — so once you heard or suspect —

are just the same, once again you force yourself

into a corner, not finding a way to tear yorself

from the world. Sadness is the signification of your existence,

sole thing to separate you from others. At least

with it to cheat reality, your reality

told so many times before. Thus, you’ll be going from one

place to another, but, in truth, you’re not going to go anywhere.

 

IV

(ALL YOUR NIGHTS)

 

In this night contained are all your nights

all your being similar to a random

order of hours, months, years. Time lost forever

is hard to mourn.

To extinguish life persistently — obviosly somewhat easier.

Once long ago you at least believed in some illusion

burned for some poem or woman. Today

even more distant seems that era. Now you are just

in another episode that, so it would seem,

has lasted for years. In another daily act of life’s termination.

Your every action is already foreseen.

In vain also that this sadness

is the nearly the same on all meridians, courts

and dens. Because — you are nowhere!

You have only invisibly risen from your solitude.

It was a moment, it was life.

Translated by Nikolai Jeffs