Przemysław Gintrowski - Nike która się waha

The most beautiful is Nike in the moment
when she hesitates
her right arm, beautiful as a command,
rests on the air
but her wings tremble

Because she sees
a lonely young man
walking a long track
of a war chariot
on a gray road in a gray landscape
of rocks and rare juniper shrubs

This young man will die soon
his fate hanging in the balance
plunging violently
towards the ground

Nike has a tremendous desire
to approach him
and kiss him on the forehead

But she is afraid
that he, who has not tasted
the sweetness of caresses
having known her
might run away like others
during this battle
So Nike hesitates
and finally decides
to remain in the position
taught to her by sculptors
ashamed of this moment of emotion

She understands well
that at dawn tomorrow

they must find a boy
with an open chest
closed eyes
and a bitter obol of the homeland
under a stiff tongue