Via Regia Via Imperii

 two women in an October field
the rows of corn have already been harvested
the stems cut
like the teeth of a beggar in front
of the church
and they look seek the remains of the harvest
their heads in scarves
their heads in embroidered flowers
when the flowers themselves are obscured by mists
nails in the ground

two women in an October field
overcome the odyssey from the one-eyed sun
to the golden fleece of the cobs
from corn stalks they craft
the horse they want to penetrate
the cattle stomach
and from him to the autumn stars

two women in an October field
one of whom plays the role of a man
respectfully walks among the stubble
and spits out eternal dust
the other
outlines the conventional boundary of the harvested
from the ground not yet passed
they will be back here tomorrow
to play the role of spouses again

two women in an October field
who perfectly complement the music of Bach

Translated from the Ukrainian by Stephen Komarnyckyj