Pratik : PRATIK HIGHLIGHT: SLOVAK POET DANA PODRACKA'S POEM, "Pure Thought"

Monday, July 4, 2022

PRATIK HIGHLIGHT: SLOVAK POET DANA PODRACKA'S POEM, "Pure Thought"

DANA PODRACKA

Pure Thought

At that same moment to plunge faces in the lake,

from two liquid palms

baptize each other with pure thought

I would follow you even to death

And beyond

Pure thought is a white church on a green meadow

and a fresco of the Last Supper inside

It leaks through walls, leaks through stained glass, leaks through the blood

when trembling serves a Solemn Mass

It resembles the golden vessel

that was used at Christmastime

Once the lid was lifted,

arcing vapours showed the way to Damascus

Come, we’ve been invited to build a transparent cathedral

A circle of skulls demands

that we mature to the work that is proper

Come, the corn ears have plunged in the light of pure thought,

they go weak at the knees from love

Even to death

And beyond

Translated from the Slovak by John Minahane

Dana Podracká studied psychology at Comenius U. A poet and essayist, she also writes for children. Her 1st book, Moon Lover, won the 1981 Ivan Krasko Prize. She has published 13 collections of poetry, most recently Paternoster (2018). Her essays focus on collective injuries, the philosophy of survival and symbols. She is interested in the metaphysical space of the soul. Winner of the Hilary Tham Poetry prize and Mark Linenthal Award,

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