Pako Aristi - Eight poems

To those who wish for a breath of fresh air in their lives I would like to write this book.

Easily portable in a rucksack,

so it may shed some light in the night-time blaze,

so its words may prove the comfort of many a solitary nights.

To the longing, to those helpless to fulfil their new-bred passion, I'd like to write this book,

may it lend them a new shiny universe free of pain,

just put me in your pocket,

to learn Neruda was never right.

To those who seek the freefall off the cliffs as their final stage, I should like to write this book,

not so much to argue the reasons for their move,

as to remind them of the many muted voices pleading them not to,

to tender them words that may reveal useful in the shadows.

To those who long for a breath of fresh air in their lives, I should like to write this book,

so those who fail to do so,

those unable to measure up love,

those who took to the cliffs,

may assuage the frailties of us all.