Only for Men

Men bore me in pain of learning the stranger inside myself
they cursed fate fishing me out of fire water before the eyes
of disoriented females angrily they bit through the umbilical cord

Men breastfed me with the usual doses of coldness
it bled into my tendons and my muscles froze
rejections so long awaited fed my heart with their milk

Men were good to me they covered the slick surface
with webs of purposes cartography of victories they summoned each other
in my most important moments revealing the beautiful places of the earth

Men only men were able to wait in earnest tough Penelopes
they could be wonderful women calmly performing what belonged to them
without wasting time on sentimental theories they slammed the door shut

Only men and their friendship without illusions rough epidermis
under my fingertips where there is nothing to savor one saves on tears and blows
no problem tightening the glass-filled fists

Men taught me how on occasions one sticks to the cause till the end
women are there to be touched zippers to be unzipped
skirts to put one’s hands under night to be entered deeply

Men a taste of vodka and failure safe indifference
there is no place which would be far away they returned my freedom
without asking permission leaving me a rib for the road

Translated by Katarzyna Jakubiak