J. Gwyn Griffiths
Two Are Embracing
(in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford)
Two are embracing, a strange act,
in a corner of the Museum
near the entrance to the Library
by a small new exhibition,
Neolithic Configurations in Southern Italy.
Is it appropriate, I wonder,
in such an ambience, where yesterday
is of greater importance than today,
where the matutinal arts of these predecessors
make the masterpieces of ages appear inferior,
and the sun of adventurous early centuries
fills the room?
Well, one must confess
that it's a quite shy embrace—
a tender kiss on moist lips
like lovers in a statue
such as Pyramus and Thisbe
or Psyche and Eros—
restrained, neither impetuous nor ardent.
And I remember myself in a Museum—
the same one in fact—
being infatuated once
and declaring I love you.
Ich liebe dich too,
speaking in a whisper
out of respect for the setting,
the tears almost springing to my eyes.
After that, kissing occurred
well away from the public domain.
By Eros, that kiss was
a hundred times wilder!
Welsh; trans. Richard Poole
J. Gwyn Griffiths, Welsh, trans. Richard Poole.