Our Young Men Poem by Peter Mamara

by M. Eminescu (1850-1889)

Our young men study in Paris
— How to tie a knot to a necktie.
Then, they come and delight the people
— With their smart-looks, like merino sheep.

The silly man looks intently at them
Seeing them turning their moustaches in a cab.
Carrying long cigars in their teeth
They roam over the bridge all day.

They speak through the nose; distort their face like jesters.
They are pillars of brothels, of pubs and cafés.
They don't toil. They tour their days.

These commodities, silly and light-hearted,
They forgot even our tongue.
They pretend to be stars on our country's sky.
(1876)

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