WORDS OF PAIN

Tonight I fought

with two sharp words…

that I said in ignorance,

they shone through the night

reminiscent of scrolls.

I had a strange dream

crucified, covered in blood…

It reminded me of Jesus

and his first step.

I wasn’t to blame

only that the blade of my tongue

fell awkwardly,

damned painful and

damned alive,

an innocent word

came to pain

me…

Should I be mute,

then you won’t hurt anyone.

The first drop fell tonight

did the rain drown me?

Or was it a tear of pain

that was pouring down beside the table…

I put those two words together again

I feel the pain groaning…

Forgive me, God,

may they come together correctly.

Time erases words

only deeds remain,

I didn’t want to, I know I didn’t,

I didn’t want to say them.

Milka J.Šolaja, Belgrade

MILKA J. ŠOLAJA, born in Korenica, Republic of Croatia. Lives and works in Belgrade. She has been writing poetry since her high school days. So far, she has published 11 independent poetry collections: “If I Were a Bird”, “Dreams in the Mirror”, “Between Reality and Sleep”, “Traces Will Remain”, “Black and White World”, “I Think Your Hands Are Yours”, “A Tear from Stone”, “I Was Born Alone” and two co-authored poetry collections: “I Dream with Verses” and “My Dreams Written in Verses”, published by “Kulture Snova” from Zagreb. 

The eleventh poetry collection “I Am This I Am” is in preparation for publication, as well as the autobiographical novel “Walking on the Edge”.  She writes love, homeland, descriptive, reflective, spiritual and poetry for children. Translated into English, Hungarian, Bengali, Spanish, Greek, Odia, Arabic…

Award-winning, represented in many anthologies, monographs, collections and magazines, both domestic and international. Some poems are composed. Member of: Serbian Writers’ Association, Literary and Artistic Union “Vlaho Bukovac” from Split, “Culture of Dreams” from Zagreb, Institute for Children’s Literature in Belgrade. She is also a member of several International Groups, Forums and Academies for Poetry and Literature, where she has received a large number of awards.