Albanian Literature | Classical

Mitrush KUTELI

The Muddy Albanian Soil

I love you, muddy Albanian soil,
I love you
Ferociously,
Desperately,
Like a wolf loves the forest,
Like a wave loves a wave,
Like mud loves mud.

Up to my knees
I am into you,
For I was born
Here,
Like my Father,
Like my Grandfather,

I love you, muddy Albanian soil,
Up to my waist
And above it,
I am into you,
And I cannot stop
For I do not wish to.

For you bind me
And captivate me
With honey
And with wormwood.

For my Mother
And my Father
And my Ancestors
All perished
Here.

I love you, muddy Albanian soil,
Magic,
And sweet,
Like death itself.

For I am deep here,
Deep into you,
Up to my knees,
Up to my waist,
And up to my neck.

And how I would love to get drunk
And relax
(Right now!)
Within you.

To hug you
Desperate,
To embrace you,
To be embraced,
Ferociously,
Desperately
That you absorb me
As you absorbed
My ancestors, absorbed
Oh, my noble-minded,
Grey-haired,
Withered-bodied
Father.

I love you, muddy Albanian soil,
Magic,
Sweet as honey,
Bitter as wormwood,
I love you
Ferociously,
Desperately,
Like a wolf loves the forest,
Like a wave loves a wave,
Like mud loves mud!

[Balta shqipëtare, from the volume Sulm e lotë, Tirana 1944, p. 55-57. Translated from the Albanian by Robert Elsie.]