top of page
Writer's pictureA Too Powerful Word

Obren Ristić


Obren Ristić (1960) is a Serbian poet, short story writer and anthologist. His poems have been published in numerous literary magazines and are included in several collections and anthologies, including the recent anthology – Eight Centuries of Serbian Poetry / Von A bis Z (2017) (translated and edited by Johann Lavundi). His poems have been translated into several languages. He has received various awards including Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk (2010), Milan Rakic (2010) and Zlatna struna (2011). He is a member of The Association of Serbian Writers. His published volumes include: Ponder Over Impressions (1996), In the East, in Serbia (2002), Upset are Holy Warriors (2006), The Lord is a Great Bard (2009), Wreath to the Creator (2009), The Barbarians of Tomorrow (2015). He lives and works in Eastern Serbia. Afternoon in the Suburb Crying cries and hoarse music on the radio from a nearby house Last move of a rooster reflection of the ax and sprinkled apron and nothing happened again The Municipality Celebration Day At the railway station in Nis1 (or Astapovo2, the devil would have known it!) Some whores persistently get in and kiss my grandfather’s medal. (Count Tolstoy went down to the people). I tell them to get lost! Not for the sake of guilty dick they are and my grandfather, Srem’s3 youth, is no longer a communist. While I’m taking him out of the hospital some important people are watching me and all remember. Our priest in the first row alone as a saint the second row is empty and in the third local dignified politicians and the main ladies having their twisted hair buns. City Choir solemnly performs Mokranjac’s composition! (Foot notes: 1 Nis is the bigest city in South Serbia / 2 Astapovo railway station is near the village of Astapovo, Russia / 3 The District of Srem is one of the seven administrative districts of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia.) Dogs Bark Another letter from Serbia, Spring 1999. And this water has flowed! Every effort is unfruitful only to understand the sound. And black birds fly down biting concrete from the bridges which are getting fewer. Spring has reached our places and from the sky cherry trees fall – right in the river . People massively in nature come out, from Heaven gifts collect: anathemata, misconceptions, henbanes and curses. (They make plows, tame the beasts). Drunk to madness they are all happy! Neither furrier Marks nor avaricious Lenin Would get better here. But the son of a bitch? And the son of a bitch … Dogs bark to get us crazy – today we are told by Yesenin again. Before Departure For a hundred years I feel on my shoulders all the pain of our great grandfathers. For us on the ravine in this part of the Balkans years pass quietly and we get old quickly. A whole century and more my grandfather on the nettle near fence. And now here before departure On the yellow paper he erases the borders. Instead of a will there is a lore at least for two books. Below the threshold he says long goodbye to the snake and asks her to take care of the house. Sons for centuries serve the master, what they have built have been demolished. A great sacrifice is meant for them all the grandchildren are already embedded inside.

Translated by Danijela Trajković


8 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page