Seasons passed, the weather tore apart.
Some springs came and went.
The swallow never came.

I waited… I waited so long
for it to come at the start of April,
to announce spring, as before.

Verorja^* rotted in my hand.
Beneath the springish sun,
its shadow left a mark.

The swallow of spring forgot me.
Forgot me…
Forgot… even spring.

*Verorja (from Verore) – a traditional Albanian red-and-white braided thread bracelet, usually worn on the wrist at the beginning of March to welcome spring and ward off bad luck, it’s often kept on until you see the first swallow (or until spring is well underway), then tied to a tree or left outdoors.

Jona Cenameri