South Island

Kajetan Kovic: South Island
(translation by Jernej Barbic)

There is a south island. It exists.
Far away in unknown sea
it is a dot on the horizon,
a spot emerging in the fog.

Between the dawn and darkness
it rises out of white water.
And immeasurably lasts.
And instantly sinks and disappears.

And the sea cracks down on desire.
And salt is irritating the wound.
And there is a recurring hunch that
the island does not exist.

That there are only obscured shells
on the dark seabed,
and pointless tree branches
and motion of the moss.

But the water opens,
and a strong star rises,
and a new ship arrives
and south island exists.