AMAN ZAMAN*

Neko je pokušao da me prevari
Neko je hteo da mi zameri
Neko je pokušao da sve to prelakira
Neko je uspeo da sve to zamaskira
Neko je želeo da me iznervira
Al muzika beše lepa pa pojačasmo ton...
A ti si i dalje puckao prstima
Okretao telefone i urlao na mesec.

Ti reče AMAN, a ja, ZAMAN!
U ime Boga i do kraja  vremena

Koraka laka a teških misli
U beznadežnoj noći pod sjajnim nebom
U ledenom vazduhu do kraja vremena
Besnih kopita obezglavljeni jahači
Pomerismo očni kapak, ugledasmo RAHAT
I jarka svetlost obasja naš SAHAT...
Pa, vazi, BAŠI, nek devojke tkaju
sukno zaborava,
u ime Boga i do kraja vremena

simetrija toga groblja
pokopala je već toliko igrača
obeskriljeni orlovi i pospani lavovi
čuli su nam pesmu pre no što je snimljena za narod
pre no sto je uvežbana i  složena u elegantne note
u besanom prisustvu, u strpljivom klepetu

ti rece AMAN, a ja ZAMAN,
aman, aman, do kraja vremena.

*pers.=u ime Boga (Ahman); do kraja vremena (zaman)

© Nina Živančević
Production audio: Radio Belgrade 2

AMAN ZAMAN

someone has tried to do me in

Someone was sad and really bad

Someone has tried to wash it off

Someone has tried to brush it down

Someone has tried to play the clown

Music was good and so we tuned in

And there you’ve gone snapping your fingers

Dialing numbers and howling at the moon


You said AMAN* and I said ZAMAN**

For the sake of Lord and to the end of time


My feet so light and thoughts so heavy

A hopeless night and shimmering sky

Cold thin air to the end of time

Tumultuous hooves and headless riders

If we move an eyelid will such RAHAT

And sheer light show the hour of SAHAT

OK, Bashi, let the girls weave the fabric

Of oblivion

You said AMAN and I said ZAMAN,

For the sake of Lord, and to the end of time


The symmetry of that cemetery

Has fed on so many dancers

The flightless eagles and sleepy lions

Have heard our song before it was recorded

Before we rehearsed and uttered these elegant notes

This sleepless presence this patient flutter


You said AMAN and I said ZAMAN

Aman, aman, to the end of time.

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*Aman- “until the end of” (in Persian)

**Zaman- “time” (in Pers.)



Translated by the author