Marian Palla - If a Mole Were as Big as a Pig

/translated by Eva Uhlířová/

Once

I loved a woman
to whom I told
to leave
because I love blues above all
she left
and so I’m feeling blue

Promise

I will finish another book
make myself some grog
and will go swimming
for it will be summer
and I will pat myself complimentarily
and my head will ache
and flies will be swarming around
and I will be proud
of myself that I really cooked the grog in such heat
because
on one autumn day
I promised it to myself

Children

if I had a camel
he would probably die
even if I bought him a toy
held his little hoof
and explained him
why I have no time for him

A dog’s life

I met a lion
he munched on my legs and went off
I crawled to a tiger
he munched on my arms and went off
I rolled all the way to my house
opened the door with my tongue
and my wife scolded me
where have I been so long
and that I should at least wash up

Ridicule

when I get even fatter than I’m now
I’ll buy a new pair of slacks
and will start to ridicule scrags
but that won’t be everything
I’ll lose weight
buy a new pair of slacks
and will start to ridicule squabs

Pessimist

when the bubbles start running down
it will be much too late

Cool

saving a lonely animal
is cool
opening door for a woman
is cool
not stealing wallets
is cool
being faithful for a while
is cool
painting a picture
is cool
being indebted
is cool
making love
is cool
not going for a trip
is cool
so all this is clear
but what am I to do
if I cannot find a lonely animal?

Anything

anything I see
is somewhere
anything I stroke
goes away
anything I say
could be said better
anything I love
starts tidying up