Ivan Djeparoski - THE HISTORY OF DISEASE

Don’t shout, monk,
when I loudly cough
during mass.
Don’t shout, monk,
when I disturb
the heavenly song of the psaltirs.
I am a sick Balkan man,
sick of history,
sick of wars,
of fires and
plunders.
Don’t shout, monk,
for I’ll be here short,
and whether I visit
God or go elsewhere
in this holy temple,
only He knows,
He and no one else.

September 2010
Chilandar, Mount Athos

Translated by Zoran Anchevski