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MEMENTO I In a mediaeval castle once I saw Oak doors hung on elegant hinges Shaped like an eagle hammered out of nails: So when the wind rushing through the terrace Swung the massive portals, The eagle torn in half swayed to and from, Moaning hoarsely with the rust of years, Longing to wrench its nail-gripped wings. II The ruins' guardian and night passers-by Confused the screeching hinges With souls' lamentations over unknown crimes; Poets described them with pen and ink; Tourists, having closely spied the door, Would - if the hinge stayed mute Carve a remarkable date or celebrated name: Here "Lola Montez" - there "The Margrave Boissy", sometimes - two hearts "Speranza!", "Nadar", "Washington Irving", "Sancho Panza", "Jacek Przybylski", and so on... Signing with their knives. III But when above the tower golden flashes Spark, accompanying heavy thunderous clouds, No one dares touch the portals - as if Mount Syon - standing aside, terrified, Hearing the creaking of the growling portals, The crunch of eagles - like an armoured troop in flight..! IV "Thus - between the breath of Asia and the West..." Said I ... and thought to carve a rhyme In oak... and artfully score my name and crest Containing two doves cooing or an anchor chained, So that a great historian might suggest That when I came here... I owned a blade. |