from deca / children

take nebojšina street instead
yes, take nebojšina
I muttered to myself
on the left is a park
in that park oleg’s grandmother saw
people flying
they were flying effortlessly everywhere
from the bombs and there were arms
and legs in the trees
now the park was under a white clean snow and deserted
there weren’t any arms or legs
now was the most beautiful time
and then
you will see the black george statue
he was six feet six inches tall
he had beheaded many men
with a scimitar
look to the left there are hospitals
grandma milka took your dad
to exercise every morning
there they were crossing the street she would buy him juice
she’d sit down on the bench and light a cigarette your dad
would struggle to stab
the straw through the cap
he’d smear his pudgy hands
with thick sticky
peach juice
he’d look at his mother and she’d find
water to wash it off with
and wash and kiss his face and there they’d run
toward grandpa who’d be waiting to give them a lift
look son
aunt daša in her boots swished her hips
in a white flowing dress
wearing a red belt
men would honk after her she was so beautiful
she’d bring hot pogačicas and yogurt
to eat on a bench
then she’d go to study at the national library
as you pass by the temple
filled with gold
look up jesus said
suffer little children and forbid them not
to come unto me
son carry vinjak and beer in your coat
on your way to čubura drink the vinjak
when it warms your blood
cool it down with a cold beer
you will see me on the bench
sitting on nikola’s lap
the temple was still being built
we were laughing


Translated from the Serbian by Maya Teref and Steven Teref



Reprinted from deca (children) published by Lom Publishing House in 2021.