<\/p>\n
NO, WE DON\u2019T CHOOSE THE TIMES WE BEAR\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n No, we don\u2019t choose the times we bear \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n They\u2019re forged in fire, built from despair.<\/em><\/p>\n And still, we cheer the newborn light,<\/em><\/p>\n While echoes fold into the night,<\/em><\/p>\n In dreams, in day \u2014 the cycles pass \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, time does choose. It chooses<\/em> us.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Once more \u2014 the clocks strike deep with distant sound,<\/p>\n and people cry, with various wings, and flee.<\/p>\n Life laughs \u2014 or lies defeated on the ground.<\/p>\n I know it all \u2014 but what will be won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n There will be more: fine dreams not yet begun,<\/p>\n an unseen choir will chant eternal songs,<\/p>\n above the wreckage of a land long gone,<\/p>\n along the path where countless wings belong.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **<\/p>\n \u2026and they locked me up \u2014 and in such a time,<\/p>\n where there\u2019s neither light<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0joy<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0shame nor compassion,<\/p>\n where fragments of a broken passion<\/p>\n still await for the bells to chime<\/p>\n still they wait \u2014 for any sign of light,<\/p>\n for a glimpse of valor lost from sight,<\/p>\n where there\u2019s neither light<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0joy<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0shame nor compassion,<\/p>\n scattering into pretense delight<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Maple seeds, the rowan ripening\u2026<\/p>\n Blend into time \u2014 and barely be seen.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll grow half-aware, both sunlit and green,<\/p>\n Perhaps you\u2019ll be real \u2014 in ways yet unseen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In your vanishing, time\u2019s not to blame,<\/p>\n \u2026Before the maple\u2019s birth, the rowan\u2019s flame.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n No, the world won\u2019t be the same \u2014 bookish, careless, without blame,<\/p>\n gentle and unscary, berry-bright and pure delight.<\/p>\n Nicely lazily and kind \u2014 just and fair in heart and mind,<\/p>\n Not a hint of fear in sight…<\/p>\n Actually\u2026 maybe \u2014 just be<\/p>\n light and just, nicely lazy* and free,<\/p>\n As the summer, splendid, bookish, and unscary,<\/p>\n Tender, bright and gentle, ever true…<\/p>\n Like your world<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The one you knew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *(Well, just a little…)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n In the meadow of evening light,<\/p>\n No kiss could ever go amiss.<\/p>\n The clouds, so clear\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a sonnet\u2019s delight\u00a0\u2014<\/p>\n Near February\u2019s cherry bliss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You\u2019ll kneel before its blooming chime\u00a0\u2014<\/p>\n Who\u2019d dare foretell the break of dawn?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2026In this world, just you, me and time<\/p>\n Or maybe time itself is forlorn.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n P.S.<\/em><\/p>\n When the suns fall to darkness, so treacherous, vile,<\/p>\n And despair locks our hearts in its cold, bitter fear,<\/p>\n Come closer, my love; let me hold you awhile,<\/p>\n We\u2019ll draw a hearth to bring warmth ever near.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We\u2019ll trace out a circle of sweet nothings and light,<\/p>\n Where the blessed delight of our home makes the shadows seem far.<\/p>\n Even using our blood for ink, we continue to write \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Still living beneath this worn-out, weary star.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ekaterina Velmezova<\/span><\/a>, University of Lausanne & University of Tartu, translated by Emily Wright<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The original texts (2024) are published in Russian in July 2025 in the journal\u00a0Artikuljacija <\/i><\/span><\/a>(\u0410\u0440\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0443\u043b\u044f\u0446\u0438\u044f<\/em>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Edited by: Olga Burenina-Petrova, University of Zurich & University of Konstanz and Anna Krutsch, Educational Institution called \u201eFAB gGmbH f\u00fcr Frauen Arbeit Bildung\u201c, Friedberg<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"