Tomaz Salamun

translation by Matthew Rohrer

Incredulous Grandson

"Children, on the train between Triest-Vienna go to sleep. There's nothing there." (my grandmother Mila Gulic, 1891-1978)

Do not nod off
on the train from Venice
to Vienna, my dear
reader.
Slovenia is so
tiny you can easily
miss it! Tinier than my
ranch east of
Sierra!
Better get up,
lean out the window, though its written:
FORBIDDEN!
Prick up your ears
to my golden voice!

Neverni vnuk (original by Tomaz Salamun)

Other Translations by Matthew Rohrer—EPR #4:  

Three poems by Volker Braun (translated with Cecilia Rohrer)
The Turning Point // Die Wende
Clay Fighter 1 // Die Tonkrieger 1
Clay Fighter 2 // Die Tonkrieger 2

Poems by Matthew Rohrer— EPR #3: