LJUBINKO JELIĆ

LJUBINKO JELIĆ 

EPISTOLES OF LOVE

 1

Good day, my love,

The weather is warm and pleasant. I

will spend the day in the nature. But on my

own. I am well, although the question

remains, and sorrow and sadness. I cannot

love differently but with my heart,

my entire soul and body. Although it

doesn’t seem that way, I am only yours and

with you. All my days turned to nights, for

you are not with me, and the nights turned

to days, for I see you in my dream. We need

time, so much time.

I embrace you and kiss you.

2

My love,

I am leaning against the wall

of memories. Against that humble fence of

gentle wings grown into my life which

retreats to a future time. The time took the

tribute of our lives, so I hope the rulers of

heaven are content. Marks will stay where

the mighty have passed, and we’ll be

making wreathes in dreamy rooms. Without

you my soul is rootless, and I am

not certain whether my love has support of

the fence against which I lean all my

phantasmagorias. I stagger and some pale

face call to me from the shade. What is it

that awaits me while the bells resound on

the evening lips from the lonely bell tower

built by sigh and quiet prayer

in the solitude of the sky? I listen to the

wind on the road you will tread in my

thoughts. I will make you a path from my

palms, sprinkled with rose petals to caress

your feet, in the morning in the reflection of

your green eyes.

For a good night, I love you.

.

3

My love,

Just say you love me, because I love

you like this, from afar. I hear and love

even the song of the birds from the distance,

for they are from you, from the earth which

gave birth to you and I am silent,

hearkening to the heart hungry for love

from afar. You are akin to gods, for you bear

in you all the wisdom of the world. I do not

know if I love more your gentle lips on my

lips or the word which gives me comfort.

Therefore, in this anxious night, so quietly,

from a distance just say you love me.

I kiss you.

4

My love,

I wish we had just today that which

we do not have. I sink into a possible life. I

dream beyond the night, with that picture –

the two of us embraced. I step into

the irrevocable whirl of your arms. How

can I go on without you, without

the support of love? How, without

unredeemable hope, fed with immeasurable

sorrow in a dream, without any venomous

cloud? You leave without the morning sun

so I cannot see before me the proof of the

fear of loneliness.

I kiss you and I love you.

.

5

My love,

I endure this solitude more easily

because I know we breathe the same air

and the same sun warms us. You are my

light in a dark night and the replenisher

from my cares and the joy of every morn.

And this sorrow I hide because the Lord

tempts us, but also loves us. Every time I

hug you, I hug the whole world. A tear

gleams in my eye and when you smile at me

gently in the morning and now, when desire

ravages my soul. And my heart quivers

when I see you for I know I came home.

There are countless paths, but only one

leads to you – the path beamed

by moonlight and endless love.

Smile at me honey, we are happy people.

6

My love,

Full of tranquility difficult to explain,

I persistently chase the shadows of your

eyes in a maze of memories. I know it is

there somewhere near the blurred trace,

behind the lowered curtain. I search, I

never let you out my sight. I don’t leave you

to the sweep of the rainbow colors. Your

shade turns into undeniable emptiness

which fills the road beyond the mind from

the timeless womb. Only a child grown up

in me can discern giving oneself entirely in

a restless look.

For a good night, I love you.

LJUBINKO JELIĆ

LJUBINKO JELIĆ was born in 1932 in the village of Šarani, close to Gornji Milanovac. He graduated from the Faculty of Economy in Belgrade. For some time he lived in Munich. He works in construction and design, and ocasionally publishing. So far he published: Letters to my love, Below the burning hammers, Wastefield, Sower’s gentleness, the Shine of the miraculous, Ravager before the door, The Magic ring, Above-Below, Closer to the glacier, Architect’s phonebook, Bitter seed, On the edge of the ash field, Building in, Tea for the neighbor, Around the dreamy nest, On another heaven, Angel in a greenhouse, Architect’s diary, Building and illusions, Graceful monophony, Collected poems in four books, Epistles of love. His works have been translated into German, Romanian, Italian, English, Macedonian, Russian and Check and can be found in several anthologies of Serbian poetry. He has been awarded and is a member of Serbian Literary Society and European Academy for Culture and Art. The awards he received include: Award of Serbian Literary Society for life’s work; “Ivo Andric” Academy’s International award for life’s work; Recognition of Cultural-educational community of Belgrade for exceptional contribution to the city of Belgrade; “Recognition of Morava” for total contribution to creativity in poetry and award of the Society of Playwrights for total contribution to the culture of Serbia.

He lives and works in Belgrade.