The Heart of the Queen

and by those who will come,

earth with gardens spoiled    

by the sun over the White Town,

gardens where

the Queen's* heart is being heard tick-tack,

tick-tack,

tick-tack,

tick-tack, tick-tack, and in the shadow

that crosses the Bridge of Sighs,

and under the pavement on the Alley of Centuries.

Tick-tack, tick-tack and in the walls of history.

The White Town is lighted by the star

which is still making its circle

around the Stella Maris Chapel.

Tick-tack, tick-tack in the triangle of my way

surrounded by royal lilies

from Balchik to Plovdiv and Sofia,

and from Sofia to Plovdiv and Balchik.

Tick-tack, 

tick-tack, 

and from my heart a bird flies

towards a rainbow coming out of the sky

like a child who raises a kite of paper

in a field full of poppies.

* Mary, Queen of Romania (1875-1938).