Trafika Europe 7 - Ukrainian Prayer

Natalka Bilotserkivets

THE ABANDONED HOUSE

Like a Wyeth canvas – Both doors leading from a room. One closed, and you wouldn’t guess There’s a world behind them, deserted long ago. A lantern illuminates the scent of old tallow And sweat from furs; mold gleams On the walls of the cupboard from everywhere... A rusty bucket, a mop, a basket, a jar. Who opened the other door? Where Did he, abandoning his home, go? ... The slight footprints of aged feet Overgrown with grass... They flew off Into the powder blue wilds, into March smoke.

And the house choked on the bluish light.

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