City Of Mercury Poem by Laurynas Katkus

The road happened to be boggy.
Cars drove by, splashing mud and light.
Below us loomed the blue city of mercury.
Tin and water rusted in its twilight.
We sat down to rest, shook dust
from our sandals, ate bacon and bread.

Me perched on a roadside post.
Tomas on his suitcase.
Marija- - reclining sideways(it is not yet begun, Lord- -
she's curled like a snail).

From the squares and taverns
the rumble of demons.

Refreshed we rose, spread the banner,
and singing our first hymns, started to descend into the valley.

Translated by Kerry Shawn Keys