The Old Town of Plovdiv - Ivan Theofilov - Bulgaria

Translator: Zdravka Mihaylova (Bulgarian)

Your ancient floors float among the stars.

Blue donkeys graze the silence around.

The Roman road leads down along matrimonial

chandeliers.

A cry out of woman's flesh calls in the clock.

Violet-colored philistines go to bed in the deep

houses,

they hear the pig, the hens, the train, the mouse.

The darkness dawns with quick sensual pupils.

The bridal veil flies away with the chimney's breath.

Blue donkeys run on the moonlit roofs.

Saints take off in a cloud from whitewashed churches,

with blood-soaked lambs they welcome the bridal veil.

Leopards gaze with amber eyes from the doorsteps.

Among box trees bacchantes with satin bands

pour fragrant myrrh out of bronze rhytons ...