ON THE ESCALATOR
ON THE ESCALATOR
ON THE ESCALATOR
ON THE ESCALATOR


Károly Lencsés

“On the escalator” (Mozgólépcsőn) translated from Hungarian by Ágnes Megyeri // HEADER PHOTO: オーディション © Toho, 1999
poetry, nov 24










Clinging to the clock hand.
My weight pennyworth. Empty pocket.
So far I have only filled it with
My hand.
Treating my eczematous skin.
Time always gives me another hitch
Another crow’s foot around my eye.
I snatch at timelessness.
I even rarely take a breath.
Hoping I can hide.
Hold the time back aching lungs.
I sit on a small chair for you to think I am small.
I crouch so I will not even be born.
I am a plan. How good! How great!
A nice dream full of promises.
Clinging to the clock hand.
Gives me another hitch then I fall.
After midnight downwards. I have come up here.
Now I cannot help but descend.
The bird that has flown and gotten tired.
Undoubtedly I still want to reach up there.
Wring water from the clouds.
Soak it for you to collect me.
Pour me in front of a dog so it can drink itself
Into days within a minute.
Into months within a week. Within months
Into years.
Hanging from the hand of time.
Always upwards after six
In the morning or the evening. And at noon
Or at midnight downwards
Like on the escalator in a mall.












AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO


Károly Lencsés is a Hungarian poet and visual artist, born in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary, in 1976. He has been writing from a very early age; his first attempts were in primary school, his passion for writing has not faded since. He has numerous publications in most Hungarian literary magazines. He has had two books of poems published, and his poems are included in many anthologies. Recently, he has been granted the Andras Dugonics literary prize, an award granted by the public. His poem “The Well (A kút)” appeared previously in the first anniversary issue of Small World City.

AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO


Ágnes Megyeri, the translator of Karoly Lencses’ poems, was born in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, in 1975. Her passion for the English language started in her early teens. She spent several years living in England and has been teaching the language for over 30 years now. She has an interest in writing prose and had some publications in Hungarian literary magazines, which created the opportunity to use her language skills when translating Hungarian poems and short stories to English.
































ON THE ESCALATOR


Károly Lencsés

“On the escalator” (Mozgólépcsőn) translated from Hungarian by Ágnes Megyeri // HEADER PHOTO: オーディション © Toho, 1999
poetry, nov 24








Clinging to the clock hand.
My weight pennyworth. Empty pocket.
So far I have only filled it with
My hand.
Treating my eczematous skin.
Time always gives me another hitch
Another crow’s foot around my eye.
I snatch at timelessness.
I even rarely take a breath.
Hoping I can hide.
Hold the time back aching lungs.
I sit on a small chair for you to think I am small.
I crouch so I will not even be born.
I am a plan. How good! How great!
A nice dream full of promises.
Clinging to the clock hand.
Gives me another hitch then I fall.
After midnight downwards. I have come up here.
Now I cannot help but descend.
The bird that has flown and gotten tired.
Undoubtedly I still want to reach up there.
Wring water from the clouds.
Soak it for you to collect me.
Pour me in front of a dog so it can drink itself
Into days within a minute.
Into months within a week. Within months
Into years.
Hanging from the hand of time.
Always upwards after six
In the morning or the evening. And at noon
Or at midnight downwards
Like on the escalator in a mall.






AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO



Károly Lencsés is a Hungarian poet and visual artist, born in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary, in 1976. He has been writing from a very early age; his first attempts were in primary school, his passion for writing has not faded since. He has numerous publications in most Hungarian literary magazines. He has had two books of poems published, and his poems are included in many anthologies. Recently, he has been granted the Andras Dugonics literary prize, an award granted by the public. His poem “The Well (A kút)” appeared previously in the first anniversary issue of Small World City.

AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO
AUTHOR BIO



Ágnes Megyeri, the translator of Karoly Lencses’ poems, was born in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, in 1975. Her passion for the English language started in her early teens. She spent several years living in England and has been teaching the language for over 30 years now. She has an interest in writing prose and had some publications in Hungarian literary magazines, which created the opportunity to use her language skills when translating Hungarian poems and short stories to English.
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