Horror Eroticus (Carnal Love Does Not Prefigure Bliss)

by Elena Shvarts
     translated by Julia Trubikhina (Kunina) & Betsy Hulick 

two fragments from
Horror Eroticus (Carnal Love Does Not Prefigure Bliss)

2. Dream

I flee down the street from him
his eye is like a coiled snake’s,
his coat conceals an automatic.
O scarlet tram, hurry, take me up,
carry me away; I look behind
and he is there, blocking the doors,
as the car clatters, jerks, and rattles.
O God, save me, save me! spare me!
A church.  I collapse before an icon.
A bullet whines, glass shatters.
A black hole pits the virgin’s forehead.
I dash behind the altar, up the bell tower
he follows me, inexorable as sin,
presses me to a wall, yanks up my skirt,
crushes me in a quick, greedy embrace
with ravenous paws fondles my breasts,
(I am made marble from terror).
He bends over, kisses my navel,
then, with a tender, twisted smile,
presses the automatic to my groin,
and pulls on the trigger.

10.

From my living body, I would extract
my own slender rib, carve it from me,
if You would only create for me from it
a small white friend, devoted to me,
not husband, not wife, not a mix of the two,
but an angel, clothed in an eggshell,
to sing to me soft songs of solace,

and perch on the light bulb at night,
thrumming spider-thin strings.
I am not Adam, but even more lonely.
Would it be so hard if You really tried?
Do it!
Think how happy I would be,
Oh my! with this small, shining, delicate friend
created from a drop of blood and friable bone.