SUPPER

There were seven of us

at one table

in an empty varenyky restaurant

the leaves drifted down in the mist

there were seven of us

quiet and talkative ones

friends and travelers who happened by

the living and the deceased

everyone was in his own time frame

everyone had his own window on the world

everyone had his own attitude

toward food

a student artist

a graduating artist who was getting ready for the army

a surreal artist with really long

hair

the drummer in a rock band with a painted brow

the keyboardist in this group

me

and a girl that I fancy

everyone sat in front of his plate

and occasionally expressed some kind of a thought

Andrii made it known that it was time to have a smoke

Petro counted off the days to his army service

Dem ate varenyky

Henri roared with laughter

Yurko criticized the varenyky

I defended them and glanced at the girl

that I fancy

she scrutinized each of us

her hair was golden

her eyes were the color of night

I would kiss her on her strawberry lips

I would have fallen for her

were it not for the cheese varenyky

Translated by Jars Balan