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VOLUME LI * No. 198 * Summer 2010
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István Vas
Poems
Translated by George Szirtes
Independent Hungary
(Független Magyarország)
An independent Hungary—
A madman's brilliant hole-in-one
In the cloudscape of reality
Illuminating it, then gone.
Light briefly flares, the dark cloud parts:
New battles, armies, maps, new rules…
Surviving, if lucky, in the hearts
Of a dozen poor benighted fools.
A dozen poor benighted fools
Who turn it into pictures, rhyme—
And the blood of thousands flows and pools
In the miasma one more time.
(1944–45)
Who We Are
(Ezek vagyunk)
In any place we're gathered, you'll not find
A single member of the company,
Not one, who has not done a stretch in prison
At some stage of the Twenties, Thirties, Forties
Or through the Fifties, accused of various crimes,
Look as you will—there is no country inn,
No bunch of people sitting round a table
Around a bottle, whatever the occasion—
Be it some impromptu local committee,
Or a party to welcome the tenant of the house—
None is complete without at least one member
Who could, if he wanted, speak, or else keep silent,
About his time, about what it was like
Behind barbed wire, behind those prison bars,
Quite when or why of no importance now,
Since no-one's bothered who got who banged up,
The air of prison that hovers round them all
Being the same, flattering even the fraudster,
So when a new guest joins you at the table
And it seems the perfect moment to clink glasses,
Don't rush to question him for a quick answer,
Like a screw wanting to know it all at once
But pull aside your chair, make room for him.
Since he is who we are—let's drink to that.
(1966)
[...]
István Vas (1910–91)
was the contemporary and friend of Miklós Radnóti, sharing a common interest in translation
and classical Greek verse forms. His first book of poetry appeared in 1932 and received critical
acclaim, to be followed by twenty volumes of poetry, essays and autobiographical prose. Vas's
poetry is rooted in reality, creating an elevated meditative verse out of everyday speech
somewhat in the manner of the Metaphysical poets, centring on love, time and history,
reflecting on the times of persecution and censorship which he had to endure. He was a highly
influential poet whose literary presence continues to be strong. A number of outstanding
English and American poets have translated him including George Szirtes, who has this to say
in the introductory essay to Through the Smoke. Selected Poems (Translated by Bruce Berlind
et al. Selected by Miklós Vajda. Budapest: Corvina, 1996): "Vas seems to pre-exist in the English
language. He gives the translator room and allows him to develop the verse at a natural pace."
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