In this poem the mentality of the Romanian people is highlighted. The main character is a thief, an individual with an otiose morality, but is presented to the public as a likeable man, by using the diminutive, humanized through the epithet that follows- curly-haired. He commits two shameful acts- he steals and perjures- but, seeing that they don't tell us the consequences of his crimes, it is understood that the authorised body either ordered not to commence criminal prosecution or acquitted him, if they went to court. I suggest that this be studied in schools.
Roxana Popescu
My first real friend was a puppy so fluffy, that playing with his fur would turn anyone kind. I had found him by accident on the staircase of the building and since then we had become inseparable. I was rolling on the floor beside him and I laughed so hard because of his curls. Mother didn't object because I was happy and the puppy didn't bark. She only told me to wash him and to be careful to not get hurt. Later, my wife accepted him for a period of time. One day, though, I couldn't find him anywhere at home. I burst into crying. Honey, Ana comforted me, he was an old mop[1]. We'll get a new one.
[1]Mop refears to the Komondor dog which is also known as the "mop dog" due to its appearance, so it's a play on words.
Adriana Patroi Miu
We lived in the same neighbourhood. I would watch him while he went to the marketplace in the morning. He was a jaded man, but I think he might have been handsome in his youth. All that was left were those clean eyes tinted by sorrow. I swear, I fell in love with his kind soul, against my will and that was before I felt his touch or his cold arms. He gave me his attention only to keep my hopes up. That's it. As a matter of fact, one day he got bored. I became ordinary. I let out a howl of pain; I wanted him to know that a dog loves only once. He called the dog catchers.
(Translated by Maria-Ilinca Darie / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)
Versiunea în română a acestui text se poate citi aici, în rubrica Ficțiuni Reale.