page 37

Winter Love

This pale blue flower
stalk bent backwards
over the edge of cut glass
from Karlovy Vary
as if falling from the balcony
in a fog of despair
a telegraphic act

this flower
like my arm
bent
behind your neck

arm which longs to strangle
or embrace you

and not let go

while on the balconies snow is snowing
and winter is snowing
silently white
like our blood

Translated by Jarmila and Ian Milner