KRYSTYNA KONECKA

KRYSTYNA KONECKA

ROSE WITH A GLASS SPHERE

For the third time on the edge of the Sea of Japan

I stand. Unable to be further than what I see.

Only the imagination runs towards the shores

of Nippon islands. So here where ridge of Korea -

this cultural bridge between China and the country

of Hiroshige, the master of xylograph art –

I want to grasp Fujiyama’s eternal magic

and the Europeans’ longing for the Far Eastern

dawns with graciousness of foams on the surge of billows.

However, on this side passion of artistic soul

of F. Manggha’ Jasieński and Krakow’s creators

in wonder struck by the emotions’ exoticism.

Because of that the tenderness for the vibrating

seismically rose twig of Weiss, beside the glass sphere.

TRANSLATED BY EWA SHERMAN, ENGLAND

EGYPTIAN WOMEN

What is in this painting of Zakaria from the Nile?

Are what I notice in the colours and the structure:

scraps of imperial linen fragile like butterfly

wings? Why did this particular accent entice me?

Across a layered palimpsest united by time

I can see women in a field, with mills, at a loom

and within the arabesques of my Egyptian shawl

I recognize relief sculptures from antiquity.

Ah, grace of Neferetiti. Cleopatra's defeat.

A trace of the captivating royal fragrances

not dispersed by khamaseen so far. And the unearthly

wisdom of Sechsat who could turn the word into art.

Just to capture the smouldering thread. And here I am

transforming shred of fabric into ancient motif.

TRANSLATED BY EWA SHERMAN, ENGLAND

THE GREEN PYRAMID

Graphics’ order. Any expression shown through colour.

Miniature Pharaoh. Yet in keeping with canon -

his face in profile, the eye and the shoulders frontwards.

And the attributes of authority. Sweet. So far.

‘The issue is not about whether the pyramids

were necessary’. But ‘they were meant to satisfy

the will of Pharaoh when he declared it just once’

- one of clever writers got the gist of sky-high tombs.

A trail of heaven through the middle. Higher the sun’s

elusive glow. And the fragile relief shines in it.

Known to the creator of repeated rhythm’s form.

What will survive chaos of the world - we think with hope

our gaze fixed on the hieroglyphs’ ancient wisdom:

The life-giving Nile’s current? Us? Pyramids’ history?

TRANSLATED BY EWA SHERMAN, ENGLAND

KRYSTYNA KONECKA

KRYSTYNA KONECKA is a poet, journalist and photographer. She lives in Poland (Bialystok). She has a MA degree in Polish Philology (Warsaw University) and she completed postgraduate studies of Culture and Education (Silesian University). She has been working in journalism and contributed articles to many magazines published in Warsaw. She has been working as photographer for a number of years and her numerous photographs have been published in magazines and presented at various exhibitions. Krystyna Konecka is a member of The Polish Writers’ Union (Warsaw branch). In poetry she favours sonnets. She is an author of nearly twenty books of poetry and reportages. Her poems have been published in Polish and foreign periodicals and anthologies. For her achievements poetry and journalism (reportages on social issues, literary and theatrical criticism, articles on the culture) Krystyna Konecka has received literary awards and was highly regarded by critics. She attends the international literary meetings.