Also available in: Macedonian

Nightfall

Sleep now. The stone is asleep. Sleeping, too, the waters.
Behind the hills of your eyebrows
in the shimmering, timid fish of your eyes—
the setting of the sun.

Sleep now. The stone is asleep. Sleeping, too, the waters.
On the smoky beam of your thoughts
as on the benches in a village house—
the well-worn toys of the day.

Sleep now. The stone is asleep. Sleeping, too, the waters.
Above the apple tree of your dreams,
above the bright-trembling apple tree—
the stars of dawn.

Aco ŠopovThe Long Coming of the Fire, Deep Vellum, 2023.
Translated from the Macedonian by Christina E. Kramer and Rawley Grau.

"Nightfall" and "If There Isn't Enough Light For You" recorded at Heliconian Hall, Toronto, February 14th, 2025.
Music by Michael Spiroff
Anaïs Kelsey-Verdecchia (soprano soloist), Christopher Bagan (piano), Andrew Downing (double bass), Alison Beckwith (soprano), Anika Venkatesh (alto), Larry Beckwith (tenor), Dion Mazerolle (bass).