Ristic Obren writes

TIMACUM MAIUS
TIMACUM MINUS

Warriors, knights and many armies,
horses and mules loaded,
graceful flocks and beasts
on the holy way
Timacum Maius – Timacum Minus
as the bird migration trail.

We saddle a horse for the Great Mayor,
we put new festive clothes on it
for new hikes – despotic.
The spears and shields a forge makes
in Baranica in Eastern Serbia.

Who knows how many towers have fallen
until now. In front of the open city door
we stand proudly at the end of the century
in line for the Communion
or at a great festivity we leave.

The shepherds bow with gentleness
the flock does not move
amid the beauty and tranquility of the saints.
Here is where we should build a church!

Mayor, it’s time for a monastery!

--tr. Danijela Trajkovic

[Timacum Maius and Minus --Archeological sites in the village of Nisevac, near Svrljig, East Serbia, and in Ravna, East Serbia.]

 

Ristic Obren writes

The Barbarians of Tomorrow

If I were to build castles and stone towers
Here I would bring ancient masters
In the centuries past forgotten
Those ones the only skillful to predict

My intentions, the right measure 
The precise angle
Of  sunrise and sunset and the position of the moon 
Opposite infinity in the foam, air by air, stone
On stone. Only they will be told who

And how will inhabit future settlements, those
Houses of Heaven. And whose bride will lose 
Her virginity with the abysmal foundations

For only they will be able, the ancient masters, 
Winds of wild to subjugate and summon
New sunlight. Those barbarians of tomorrow.

--tr. Danijela Trajkovic

 

  Sketch for Falkenstein Castle -- Christian Jank