[The child who speaks despite the rule]
translated from the Romanian by Monica Cure
The child who speaks despite the rule
and says everything he feels and sees
is maybe slow or slow to please
or maybe he’s a holy fool—
that’s what his dad understands
when he yells at the chatterbox
supposedly for real for his nonstop talk
but continues to hold his hand.
[Copilul care vorbește fără să gîndească]
Copilul care vorbește fără să gîndească
și zice tot ce-a simțit și-a văzut
poate că-i prostuț sau prost-crescut
sau poate are o prostie îngerească
că uite așa i se pare
și lui taică-su cînd îl ceartă
cică serios pe gură-spartă
da-l ține de mînă în continuare.
From Deep Fakes (World Poetry Books, 2026) by Dan Sociu, translated by Monica Cure. Copyright © 2026 Dan Sociu, Monica Cure. Reprinted with the permission of the publisher.
Dan Sociu
Dan Sociu was born in Botoşani, Romania, in 1978. His experience of homelessness and unemployment in his early twenties honed his attention to social realities.
Sociu is the author of nine books of poetry, most recently Deep Fakes (World Poetry Books, 2026), and three novels. He has won numerous awards, including the Mihai Eminescu Prize, the Romanian national literary award for emerging talents.