How many sunrises can a human bear
If his heart floods each morning
If eternally the sun rises red
And never fades?
How many sunrises can a human bear
If his heart through blood strings
Raises its wings, each evening falls
With burning swallows?
How many sunrises can a human bear
If his heart each morning trembles under a knife
And a thousand red dawns drag along with life
Like a long interminable red chain.
If thousands of mornings arrive without regret
And each must be lived differently?
Translated by: Margita Gailītis. Latvian literature. Latvijas Literatūras centrs