Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
Down the balcony
The evening shades fall aslant
towards the stairs
Down the balcony lay the bushes
the wood, the long abysses.
Down the balcony lay the quinces,
the apples the muses,
the wells
and the waves of Jon.
Shade after shade until the last hill
fears lay down the shakings the rains,
the equations the doubts..
Down the balcony are the winters
the ups and the downs of life.
Down the balcony are the muses
the lemons,
the hands
and the passing desires
a flight of waves that fade..
Spring in the avenue
It is spring in the avenue
but let there be no sun!
Let it freeze,
let a wind blow
let the snowflakes fall upon us
in a shelter of mimosas let the cold find us
under the spell of flowers
let them sleep sound.
Let the waves that recognize us
burst and let the lightning strike!
Let our memories search for us far late at night
even if they may not find us.
Even if a drunkman plants thorns
there will still be flowers left!
Time does not stop
when the weather fights
even if the steps are stopping
in front of a world
in front of a door.
I have met a man who used to smile only
I have met a man who used to smile only
before he repented caught in guilt.
I have met a man who used to be happy simply in vain
without ever explaining himself
why the world bursts out in tears.
I have asked him how does he know the world
which seems upside down!
And after every question
I have receieved tens of answers
that convinced me not!
So I have waited that one day
he would ask himself
simply in vain a question made public!
But I was afraid he would not reply
so I have run and in the silence
I have seen the world undressed,
naked!
Nikollë Loka was born in Mirdita on March 25, 1960; graduated as a teacher at “Luigj Gurakuqi” University of Shkodra; master’s degree in pedagogy at the University of Tirana, doctorate in history of education at the University of Tirana. He worked as a teacher, principal in a high school and education inspector in the district of Mirdita, then a teacher in a high school in Tirana and a lecturer at “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University in Elbasan. Lives in Tirana. Author of ten poetic volumes in Albanian and three poetic volumes in Italian (two of which with co-authors); included in the anthology “La Poesie contemporaine albanaise”, “L’Hartmattan” publications, Paris 2024. In addition to Albanian, his poems have been published in Italian, English, French, German, Arabic, Romanian, Swedish and Mecedonian. Winner of several literary awards in the country and abroad. Member of several national and international literary associations. Included in the Lexicon of Albanian writers 1501-2001, editions “Faik Konica”, Pristina 2003 and in the Encyclopedia of Italian language poets, “Aletti Editore” Rome 202; The poetic anthology “33 years of Albanian poetry” 1991- 2023.
