Trandafir Sîmpetru’s poem “You…” is an evocative and deeply sensuous exploration of love, desire, and vulnerability, couched in imagery as fluid and dynamic as the ocean that frames it. The poem’s opening lines establish the ocean as a central metaphor, infusing the setting with mystery and depth. “You came silently from the hidden shore” suggests both secrecy and origin, as if the beloved emerges from a liminal space between the known and the unknown. The sea, often symbolizing the subconscious, serves as a backdrop for the unfolding emotions, carrying the weight of longing and melancholy. Sîmpetru’s description of the “melancholy of shells” evocatively mirrors the fragmented and delicate nature of human emotions, much like shells shattered by relentless tides.

The sensory richness of the poem is both overwhelming and captivating. The imagery of “peeling foams like a snake’s rustle” and “gnaws sands through the greenish air” invites the reader to experience the scene viscerally, making it almost tangible. These lines create a mesmerizing interplay between sound, sight, and touch, imbuing the natural setting with an almost palpable presence. The poet’s deliberate choice of verbs like “sizzling” and “treading” lends dynamism, as though the environment itself pulsates with life, conspiring in the lovers’ union.

As the poem transitions from the external to the deeply personal, it delves into the vulnerability of love. The line “I was but a beggar in the temple of love” poignantly encapsulates the speaker’s surrender, presenting love as a form of worship imbued with reverence and yearning. This religious imagery elevates the act of love to a sacred ritual, emphasizing its profound emotional impact. The speaker’s fear of “losing me again in those deltas” tenderly reveals the fragility of identity within the all-consuming experience of love. The reference to “deltas” and “water lilies” symbolically intertwines beauty and transience, reinforcing the theme of fleeting yet transformative connections.

The beloved is portrayed as a paradoxical figure, both ethereal and corporeal. Lines such as “your breasts hovering over my mouth” and “you tore groaning my pulse” balance raw physical intimacy with an aura of mysticism, creating a compelling duality. The beloved becomes both the subject of adoration and the agent of transformation, blurring the boundaries between the lover and the loved. The interplay of light and shadow, as seen in “shadows were breaking under thighs of light,” enriches the imagery, suggesting that love is as much a revelation as it is an enigma.

Beneath the passionate surface of the poem lies an undercurrent of fear and loss. The speaker’s apprehension, expressed in phrases like “fear that I would lose me again,” adds emotional depth, subtly reminding readers that love, while uplifting, can also be disorienting and overwhelming. This duality reflects the paradox of love: it is simultaneously a unifying and a fragmenting force, a source of both comfort and turmoil.

As a self-translated work, “You…” carries the added intrigue of being reinterpreted by the poet himself. Translation, particularly self-translation, is an act of both preservation and reinvention. By bringing his work into another language, Sîmpetru navigates the delicate task of maintaining its original essence while adapting it to a different linguistic framework. The fluidity of the imagery and the evocative language suggest that the poet has succeeded in capturing the poem’s emotional core.

While the poem is undoubtedly masterful, it is not without its challenges. The density of imagery, though striking, can occasionally feel overwhelming, requiring careful reading to fully absorb its layered meanings. The lack of punctuation in places, while contributing to its dreamlike quality, can make the flow of ideas somewhat difficult to follow. Additionally, the heightened sensuality and vulnerability of the poem demand a level of emotional openness that not every reader may be prepared to embrace.

Trandafir Sîmpetru’s “You…” is a vivid exploration of love’s transformative power, articulated through lush imagery and profound vulnerability. Its fluid structure mirrors the ebb and flow of emotions, while its symbolic richness immerses readers in its deeply evocative world. Though the poem challenges readers with its intensity and complexity, its rewards are manifold, offering a resonant meditation on the complexities of love, desire, and identity.

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