OLYMPUS MONS, MARS

-by Victor Chifelea-


-Photo 1 (Victor Chifelea at the Cosmopoetry Festival 1996,
Arts Showroom - Targoviste Mayoralty)
by Victor Bortas
-Photo 2 (Mars, 2005)
by Adrian Bruno Sonka


Victor Chifelea’s first presence
at SARM’s Cosmopoetry Festival was in 1996.
“Olympus Mons, Mars” about an ascension
on the tallest volcano in the solar system (nearly 27 km high)
was one of his most appreciated astropoems.





I breathe Carbon and Nitrogen
and try hard purple slopes.
I lean on my lunette, and on my back
I carry a knapsack without hopes.

Just pain, deception and fear are in it,
depressing provisions of sorrow,
I hardly climb hostile rocks, dust cascades
and red walls, today and maybe tomorrow.

Suddenly, after one step or two,
I see amazed that incredible stone freak
among so many ruby crags and coral threes:
It is my astral goal! It is the peak!

This should just be the last effort,
my last desperate exertion.
I am the proudest mountaineer in the solar system,
I am an exception.

Above, a corridor towards the Sun.
Below, a lot of danger rinds:
barren precipices, long canyons and strange labyrinths
rummaged by acid winds.

But up there, the divine torch! Life’s totem! The Sun!
Stretching out my hand to the great connection,
I am the proudest mountaineer in the solar system.
I am an exception!





ROMANIAN ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE ASTROPOEM


OLYMPUS MONS, MARTE

Rasuflu Carbon si Azot
Si ma caznesc pe purpurii costise
Ma sprijin in luneta ca-ntr-un ciot
In spate mi-e rucsacul far’ de vise

In el sunt doar angoase deziluzii si dureri
Proviziile deprimante de tristeti
Ma catar din greu pe ostilele stanci
Sub cascade de praf si rosii pereti

Deodata dupa inc-un pas sau doi
Printre copaci cu frunze de coral
Ascuns pe dupa flancuri de rubin
Se vede varful - telul meu astral

Un ultim efort mi-a ramas
O ultima disperata sfortare
Sunt cel mai semet montaniard din sistem
Deasupra-mi - culoar catre soare

Sub mine campuri uscate se-aprind
Primejdii invinse, prapastii aride
Si lungi coridoare, imens labirint
Rascolit de vanturi grele, acide

Dar sus troneaza mingea de flacari
Zeeasca faclie, al firii totem
Din piscul abrupt spre soare-ntind mana
Sunt cel mai semet montaniard din sistem


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