Poem by Marija Najthefer Popov
ESCAPE FROM ONE’S SELF
Have you ever killed
your own shadows
that stalk you
like apparitions that terrify you
and always look like
some scary beasts
with the figure of a man
and many sharp teeth in his head.
His eyes are bloodshot,
stare glacial;
his claws
are made for killing
and want to rip
your chest open,
to pluck and eat your heart.
Shrunken, from all that horror,
(which stalks you in broad daylight)
size of a sparrow’s heartyour
little heart.
That shadow follows you
in the middle of a clear starry night,
but in darkness hides itself
in threatening clouds.
It is so scary
when it is above you,
but you cannot see the horror,
except for its glowing eyes
and disfigured bloodthirsty teeth
ready to sink into your neck
and slaughter your soul…
Have you ever killed
your own shadows
that stalk you?
You swing sun’s rays
at the horizon
-in vain.
Like a hundred-headed monsters,
shadows multiply
and choke
while your breath is held
between terrible memories
and a difficult present.
They choke,
choke!
