Valentine Poem by Riza Braholli

For Mrs. Zh... and her husband

Both sat in silence face to face
as patient as the armchair
wordless we sit, look at ourselves
but hearts and eyes still share.

What are we doing? Blessed in a shrine?
You are, even I an old monk,
hot as if I were Valentine
and you, my blind-marked spunk...

For our whole lives, even today
surrounded by dearest people;
the day puts us into shackles, nay
we're absent, do not feel hearts' steeple.

"Dear lass, I want to touch your hand..."
"Dear lad, for a kiss I worry..."
and eyes since ago the play understand
hands tremble and lips in a hurry.

We need at night, for darkness
to wait when others are going to sleep;
mattress, sheets, and pillows await
for passions like river to the deep.

Yet on your lip you place your finger
hush..sh..sh... - they might overhear...
We seek among ashes so hot an ember
for shapes our hands draw near.

Among the ashes now you and I,
with embers in eyes-hearts combine;
and you my blind lass in hunger pass by
thirsty me evermore Valentine.
3/02/2019, Tirana
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Translation from Albanian into English
By Alfred Kola
Korçë, February 10,2019