Mārtiņš Freimanis R.I.P.

It feels strange when a peer departs (1977–2011). It seems so much has been, so much still ahead. No one truly knows where we come from or where we go. Perhaps we continue living in a parallel world, perhaps we are reborn, transformed, say, into a rabbit eagerly nibbling a tasty dandelion leaf. That was Mārtiņš's vision. He has left his vision of the world as a legacy for readers and listeners alike, in both music and poetry. And what better memorial can there be than the continued living of an author's work, a continuation without a defined end. Below is a brief glimpse into Mārtiņš Freimanis's poetry collection "Little Grass for a Rabbit's Soul" (Mandris, 2004).

***
But - I wait!
Pale, frightened to death, the dormice
Tremble and tickle my skin.
Today the earth smells of milk,
And after the just-fallen rain
My toes catch in the cracks of the asphalt.
I walk home with my eyes fixed on the ground.
I know that today I begin to perish,
Regardless of whether or not
That much-promised end of the world comes.
And my heart is as large and slow as a whale,
And the streets have no end or edge for me.
From today I am no longer alone.
From today I can only become superfluous.
I furrow my brow, but I smile
And wait
With a smile.
But - I wait!

***
Night paints me white.
Now I must fly away.
The sky is full of snow-white doves.
Please, I must get to you!
I look and marvel at how many
Breath-birds rush toward the heavens.
Believe me, tonight I am permitted
Too much - too much!

On the night when a shower of stars falls,
Look up to the skies!
Find me among those
Angels hidden in the clouds.
Don't close the window so tightly -
What if tonight there is nowhere left for me to go?
I will be that melting snow
In your palms for a moment still.

Just a little sad - you are not here.
Night speaks to me - more strangely than before.
Perhaps too much freedom has been granted to me?
But I wish to keep my wings unfolded still.

***
People.
Things.
Street.
Pavement.
Laughter.
And you still told me
That all of this is needless.
We, regardless, will remain
Each other's debtors.
And with slow steps
Over the city cobblestones
I will turn around
And say - let us bid farewell
To the people,
The things,
The streets,
The pavements,
The laughter
Between us!

***
Today you are my little grass
For my rabbit's soul.
Tomorrow you will be in the weather forecast
Blamed for all catastrophes.
The day after tomorrow you will be a torn fence
Around a kindergarten's carousel.
Three days from now you won't be home,
I won't even know how you are doing.
But on Monday I must be at work.
My dear, my good one, don't take it badly!
After that you will suddenly want that.
Well then... I won't say it's for nothing!
But on Wednesday I must visit the pub -
There's a good little bar just around the corner.
Well, but tomorrow you will curl up in my armpit again
And you will be the only one in the whole world for me.
You know, for a rabbit to be happy,
One must have a smoke at least once a week!

***
Give me a sun without joy.
Give me an unfulfilled day.
Give me a peace not yet found.
Give it to me - warm as milk.
And I will be for you just so,
And I will be for you differently,
And I will sing for you just so,
And I will love you differently.