The New Hungarian Quarterly, 1971 (12. évfolyam, 41. szám)
László Nagy, Mihály Ladányi: Poems (translated by Alan Dixon and Kenneth McRobbie)
96 TH E NEW HUNGARIAN QUARTERLY (VANDA laughs more and more loudly; EMBERFI stands ill at ease, head bowed) Vanda! What are you laughing about again? What on earth do you find so funny? (VANDA crumples, her laughter changes into a sob) Vanda! I wish you would tell me once and for all what is so funny here? What is so funny?!. . . (VANDA is convulsed with sobs; the others all stand and stare at the screen with impassive faces) The curtain comes down slowly The End FROSTS ARE COMING Hard frosts march together— white rage, a ruthless guard snapping down the shoulder like pretzel in their tread. Where to live without you? That makes fibres shiver. Your nearness a refuge dawn’s slow fires discover. I can’t bear the sight of that winter-cold platter. Take it! Feed me with love now my shadow wears thinner. Let me put the roof on our love’s burning-tower; unfasten the skirt on your hip’s gold and lustre. LÁSZLÓ NAGY Translated by Alan Dixon