this is a poem which were not to be dreamt
this is a poem which I could not write
Charleville is always disappearing on me falls
into the muddle of crime scenes and days
Charleville is a map-makers’ conspiracy
probably made up by that uncle Google
I can’t get there can’t get there in my dreams
to the place where Rimbaud fell from the sky
others dreamed of him others met him touched him
Wojaczek also beginning with W also almost got him
he wanted it to last longer but the city escaped
and Rimbaud flew away with the city
Charleville is a map-makers’ conspiracy
Charleville is a map-makers’ conspiracy [1]
[1] Fragment of the poem ‘Rimbaud’ by Rafał Wojaczak
Rafał Mikołaj Wojaczek (1945 -1971) – Polish poet and prose writer, included in the group of doomed poets
Translation from Polish by Sarah Luczaj
III Prize at the XXIV edtion of Rafał Wojaczek Poetry Award 2016 (Poland)