January, by Duiliu Zamfirescu

Winter's Cold, the windows painter,
is playing with the Snows
and it's changing them in hoar-frost
hanging tassels on tree-branches.

On my window chilled with ice
I sit looking at the sky:
The clouds, which are sealed by the frost,
Gathered spotless overhead.

Sad and lonely as a Cricket
Breaking the time barrier again
I'm waiting to spin my thoughts
In a warmer corner of my brain.

And outside, only the smoke
Thin and slowly takes the flight;
I commit my longing to him
Letting  fly up to the skies.

Duiliu Zamfirescu (1858 – 1922) was a Romanian novelist, poet, writer, lawyer, journalist, politician and diplomat. He wrote with refinement, developing an original style although his opera had a lot of influences, sometimes in contradictions: parnassianism, romanticism, neoclassicism, conservatism or realism.  Starting with his debut in novels: "Facing Life / In fata vietii" he became well known for  "Life in the Country/ Viata la Tara"; "Tanase Scatiu" and "At War / In razboi".
He wrote also poetry volumes: "Untitled / Fara titlu", " Other Horizons / Alte Orizonturi"; " Pagan Hymns / Imnuri pagane",  "New Poems / Poezii noue" and "On the Black Sea / Pe Marea Neagra".
He wrote "January / Januarie" poem in 1988 (the English translation tries to convey the Romanian meaning of the verses).

Januarie

Frigul, scriitor pe geamuri,
Cu zapezile se joaca
Si le schimba-n promoroaca
Atarnand ciucuri pe ramuri.

Din fereastra-mi inghetata
Stau uitandu-ma la cer:
Norii, plumbuiti de ger,
S-au strans pata linga pata.

Trist si singur ca un greier
Valul timpului rupandu-l,
Eu astept sa-mi toarca gandul
Intr-un colt mai cald de creier.

Iar afara numai fumul
Subtiratec isi ia zborul;
Eu imi leg de dansul dorul
Si-n vazduhuri ii dau drumul. 

"The Reflexion, this splendor of our existence, has to embrace everything in the World. / Cugetarea, aceasta splendoare a existentei noastre, trebuie sa imbratiseze totul pe lume." Duiliu Zamfirescu