Statue of Liberty

by Pellumb Lamaj

Ah, statue, statue of liberty,

How many youth dreams withered our wrinkle forehead,

How many echoes of love were washed out hopelessly,

How many martyrs’ skulls with no burial were left.    

Ah, statue, statue of liberty,

The only beam of light, the merely ardent fire,

The purely pleasant dream of our spiritual journey,

Of hopes mixed with moans and bloodstained attire.

Ah, statue, statue of liberty,

The only in hell hope keeps us alive through,

Yet if we perish here not getting together free,

Our murderers, trust me, will come and cuddle you.  

Spaç 1979 


Translated from The Albanian by Hilda M. Xhepa

Jail Cell

by Pellumb Lamaj

Inside the four walls,

Besieged by pitch darkness,

My braving body crawls,

Can’t tell when sun rises.

Within the four walls,

Worn out of loneliness,

Surrounded by ghouls,

Of prison cell darkness.

Inside the four walls,

Lie down on ground frosty,

Waiting when night falls,

To turn to God Almighty.

Within the four walls,

In silent night sadden,

I wait in vain the Lord,

He is high up in heaven.

Spaç 1979


Translated from The Albanian by Hilda M. Xhepa

Xhelal Koprencka

Xhelal Koprencka



By Spaçi Inmate

Enraged was spirit of grieving crowd,
When herd’s offering was called for,
Ghastly was silence of death cloud,
When among us slid a meteor.

Eagle Koprencka heard his name call,
A simple name of a valiant legend,
Fervently proud he stood tall,
In red hyena’s path maddened.

You are in the people’s name arrested,
For high treason you’re charged with,
Hero’s words that haunting moment,
Forever echo as gold monolith.

“Life and death cannot reside together,
Innocence and crime are not of a kind,
In people’s name should judge never,
His grave diggers on no account.”

Crowd heard it the evil spirit as well,
Crime trembled elated was the mob,
Stripped off acacia by winter hell,
On him the remaining leaf she dropped.


Translated from The Albanian by Hilda M. Xhepa