The Angel

by Ivan Maria Jelinek  
     Transl. by Jirina Fuchsova, 1983


How to go on, the angel asked.
How to, he asked me, himself without moving.
What to give for an answer? I did not know the road.
Though it was in fact a message to my query
about eternity in my endless finality.
The angel stood unmoving.

The question was in fact a message
to my denial. To my query.

Thus I could give of my belief a mere direction,
and gave. Perhaps the angel asked me only
what I could divine from the question.

And then the angel pedestrian became. Now I had
wings,
from the springs of depth was upwards growing,
while he grew smaller, smaller did appear.
Because by now he'd delivered his message,
to every fault of mine a medicine, a healing;
for now, for later, for before;
for query to his every answer;
for all to see.
Also for here. And without counsels.

And then, when I was nearest,
crosswise he crucified me.
Presumably to make me surer in my wings;
in the picture - fulfillment, emptinesses.

Where nowadays I without any moving,
though winged, stand unmoving.

(From "POSEL", London-Rome, 1972 -1974).
Czech Translation Copyright by 
Jirina Fuchs, 1983.

IVAN MARIA JELINEK
was, in 1985, the first recipient of
the prestigious JAN ZAHRADNICEK AWARD
FOR CZECH POETRY, established by the
members of CZECHOSLOVAK CULTURE CLUB, LOS ANGELES
in 1981.
JZ PRIZE FOR CZECH POETRY is now administered by
the CZECHS ABROAD MEMORIAL in PLZEN, Czech Republic.