Intermezzo - Pogradec - Lasgush Poradeci (*)

A shimmering sunset on the endless lake.

Ghostlike, a veil is slowly spread.

Over mountain and meadow the dark of night descends,

Settling from the heavens upon the town.

Over the vast land no more sound is to be heard:

In the village the creaking of a door,

On the lake the silence of an oar.

Over the Mal i Thatë an elusive eagle soars.

My youthful heart retreats into the depths of my soul.

The whole town, all life, retires to the realm of sleep.

Darkness rules the four quarters of the earth. And now,

Setting out on his journey through Albania,

Legendary Father Drin arises at St. Naum's.

Lasgush Poradeci

(*) dit gedicht wordt geciteerd in Reisverbod van Ismail Kadare

(**) foto's: wikipedia