John Robert Colombo, a Canadian poet,
and a friend of mine,
asked us to explain
what we mean by
slavery.
He had come from a country that is green
and whose flag displays not "Liberty or death!,"
but an outstretched maple palm.
And it was not so easy for him to comprehend
what slavery
truly
means.
We told him, "The power rested in them..."
He gave a shrug: "Elections..."
And we cackled merrily.
We explained, "They were everywhere..."
He nodded understandingly,
"Yes, yes, military occupation..."
And we smiled considerately.
We explained, "They had permission to kill..."
He flinched, "A war, you say?"
Involuntarily we chuckled.
We burst out, "They levied blood tax!"
He nodded understandingly,
"Oh, yes, a vicious tax system."
And we laughed through tears.
Barman! Pour some wormwood wine,
hand over the mezze! And - cheers!
We could not understand each other!
I am glad about you, my friend Colombo,
and I envy you.
But tell me, then,
what do you mean by
freedom?
1975
_____________
îðèãèíàë:
Äæîí Ðîáúðò Êîëîìáî, ïîåò îò Êàíàäà
è ìîé ïðèÿòåë,
ïîèñêà äà ìó îáÿñíèì
êàêâî å òîâà
ðîáñòâî.
Òîé áåøå äîøúë îò åäíà çåëåíà ñòðàíà,
íà çíàìåòî íà êîÿòî èìà íå "Ñâîáîäà èëè ñìúðò!",
à ïðîòåãíàòà êëåíîâà äëàí.
È íå ìó áåøå òîëêîâà ëåñíî äà ðàçáåðå
êàêâî å òîâà
ðîáñòâî.
Íèå ìó êàçàõìå: "Âëàñòòà áåøå òÿõíà..."
Òîé âäèãíà ðàìåíå: "Èçáîðè..."
È íèå ïðèõíàõìå âåñåëî.
Íèå ìó îáÿñíèõìå: "Òå áÿõà íàâñÿêúäå..."
Òîé ðàçáèðàùî êèìíà:
"Äà, äà, îêóïàöèÿ..."
È íèå ñå óñìèõíàõìå äåëèêàòíî.
Íèå ìó îáÿñíèõìå: "Òå ìîæåõà äà óáèâàò..."
Òîé ñå ñåïíà: "Âîéíà, òàêà ëè?..."
È íèå ñå ïîçàñìÿõìå, áåç äà èñêàìå.
Íèå èçâèêàõìå: "Òå ñúáèðàõà êðúâåí äàíúê!"
Òîé êèìíà ðàçáèðàùî:
"Àìè äà, ëîøà äàíú÷íà ñèñòåìà."
È íèå ñå çàñìÿõìå ïðåç ñúëçè.
Õåé, êðú÷ìàðþ! Íàëåé îò ïåëèíà,
íàðåæè îò ìåçåòî! È - íàçäðàâå!
Íå ìîæàõìå äà ñå ðàçáåðåì!
Ðàäâàì ñå çà òåá, ïðèÿòåëþ Êîëîìáî,
è òè çàâèæäàì.
Íî êàæè ìè òîãàâà
êàêâî å òîâà
ñâîáîäà?
1975