Most Read... John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
Vahni CapildeoOn Judging Prizes, & Reading More than Six Really Good Books
(PN Review 237)
Christopher MiddletonNotes on a Viking Prow
(PN Review 10)
Next Issue Kirsty Gunn re-arranges the world John McAuliffe reads Seamus Heaney's letters and translations Chris Price's 'Songs of Allegiance' David Herman on Aharon Appelfeld Victoria Moul on Christopher Childers compendious Greek and Latin Lyric Book Philip Terry again answers the question, 'What is Poetry'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from PN Review 99, Volume 21 Number 1, September - October 1994.

Two Poems translated by Francis R. Jones Ivan V. Lalić

Resava
How long can a guard hold out
In the gorge, trained for an imaginary
Eternity, and forgotten in the shingle roll
Of ebbing splendour, in a night of conflicting signals?

Warrior saints, angels of defeat
With weapons of men, a blunted flame
Sings on your wings, between walls
Where the echo hunts a shadow, the shadow hunts a gaze
Staring at a perfect point, and empty.

The icy shadow of a nut-tree, and a rose
Beneath the wall. Winds shimmer,
Great thirsty caravans of air
Over the ravine beneath the guard;

                                    pollen mixed with dust
Is falling on your armour, sentinel angels.
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image