Languages

I’ve got a surprise for you, she said. We came out onto the main road, the empty main road. I gave a blank reply: a surprise? Get a move on! Nintso sounded impatient. We’ve got stuff to do and I want to show you my surprise. OK, I said. But on one condition. Fine, she said, tell me later. Why are you going this way, I asked. They’ll see us. The other way takes longer. Nintso, I said, they’ll see us. Fine. Nintso looked at me wide-eyed. Fine. We went round the other...

I had no idea what was wrong with the girl. She'd make her move, hold her breath for a few seconds, then move her hand toward the chessboard again and touch the piece she had just put down, as if she was caressing it, or else lightly grasp the very top of the piece with her pale fingers and then turn it slightly, move it a few millimeters to one side, whisper "J'adoube" in a warm, slightly choked voice and then rest her blonde head back down on her fleshy palm. She did this...

Yesterday, I was sick, I was dying, Now Zozia must have me on her mind. There's a demon in Galaktioni But there's an angel in me. Every day I receive precious letters. I must go to the garden, today's cold is bitter. The earth gleams in Galaktioni But there's a heavenly spark in me. Far away, the wind shrieks; nearby, a nemesis. Night's falling; it's seven sharp. There's blue in Galaktioni But in my verse, the abyss. Yesterday, I was...

Now, no doubt, the hour must be late . . . Despair has settled for the night in my heart, Tortured once more by bitter regret— What time is it? What time is it? Beyond the window where I stand, implacable night. Only autumn has dawned for me. Maybe it's three o'clock, could it really be three? What time is it? What time is it? Maybe somehow one-third of this . . . But a glance outside shows black. From the station the bell screams thirteen-- What time is it? What...