By Lóránt Zas – Translated by Nullus
In November all the streets lament, In November the people want to cry. In November in Buda and Pest, laughter, the long goodbye. In November at the Farkasrét, Silence of an All Souls Day Mass await. In November with a white flower, every grave decorate. In November candles are burning, The small, the plump, the thin, the imposing. In November to the ground lower, the dark hats of mourning. In November there’s peace and quiet. Cemetery, headstone, flower and cross. In November tears of grief embrace, All those who have been lost. In November machine guns fired, tanks trampled. The very ground trembled. In November they killed and murdered. November had crumbled. Here in November they broke an oath, they abused the law and trampled on rights. In November with red and with blood, the bonfire was bright. In November tyranny pounded, truncheons were shredding, jail cells were teasing. In November on our foreheads, brands of stars were searing. In November fists are clenched tightly and the palms sense a tingling sensation. In November the dead are living. November damnation. (1958)
Here’s the original Hungarian poem: Novemberben
Novemberben szürkék az utcák, novemberben szürkék az emberek. Novemberben Budán és Pesten nevetni nem lehet. Novemberben a Farkasréten halottak-napi mise-csend fogad. Novemberben fehér virággal fedik a sírokat. Novemberben égnek a gyertyák, kicsinyek, teltek, véznák és nagyok. Novemberben földig hajolnak a sötét kalapok. Novemberben géppuskák szóltak, tankok tapostak, a föld remegett. Novemberben gyilkoltak, öltek, november temetett. Novemberben itt esküt szegtek, gyaláztak törvényt, tiportak jogot. Novemberben vörössel, vérrel a máglya lobogott. Novemberben erőszak vágott, gumibot tépett, börtön kacagott. Novemberben a homlokunkra égettek csillagot. Novemberben sírnak az utcák, novemberben sírnak az emberek. Novemberben könnyek köszöntik az elesetteket. Novemberben csend van és béke, temető, fejfa, virág és kereszt. Novemberben az álmodó rög itt tart és nem ereszt. Novemberben öklök szorulnak és felbizseregnak a tenyerek. Novemberben élők a holtak, november fenyeget. (1958)