We had the sea close by
We had the sea close by; wide and infinite
in its anger, it tried hard to enter our words.
We had the sea close by; it didn’t take much
to hold the waves in our hands. Only a step
would be enough, and the particles of sand
between our fingers would have penetrated.
But I had you close to my soul. The noises,
the waves vanished at sunset, a thousand
particles of sand faded, lost somewhere. It
was your voice that remained; like a cradle
it rocked me with the tenderness of a wave.
Falling Stars
Give me your hand, let’s stop for a second
the crazy and hectic race where we’re lost,
let’s eavesdrop on the peace and our breath,
let’s wake up the magic of the sentiments.
Close to the fireplace, let’s call the memories,
nostalgia will descend as dew from the eyes,
passion will shake us from this oblivion,
reaching thus to all the recesses of the heart.
Let’s talk like friends, let’s kiss like lovers,
listen to the messages that the wind brings,
the sparks that shine and switch off in the air
are falling stars from the dark sky of winter.
Ice between my fingers
I wanted to hear your voice.
My heart would blossom like
a flower; my joy would flow
just like a stream through the
long telephone wire.
I would bring the spring into
my hands, bird songs, a wealth
of buds. I would watch this
scary and chaotic world with
happy and loving eyes.
I wanted to hear your voice
and touch happiness with
my hands, but they feel cold,
so between my fingers
I now have only ice and frost.
About the Author
Irma Kurti is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator, and has been writing since she was a child. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. She was awarded the Universum Donna International Prize IX Edition 2013 for Literature and received a lifetime nomination as an Ambassador of Peace by the University of Peace in Switzerland. She is also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain and has published 120 works, including books of poetry, fiction, and translations. Her poems have been translated into 40 languages worldwide. She is one of the most translated and published Albanian poets.
