Primož Čučnik was born in Ljubljana in 1971 and studied philosophy and cultural sociology at The Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana University. His first collection of poetry, Dve Zimi (Two Winters), was published in 1999 and received a literary debut award. His latest books are Ritem v rôkah (Rhythm in hands, 2002), Akordi (Chords, 2004), Ode on Manhattan avenue (2003, a collaborative work with Slovenian poet Gregor Podlogar and visual artist Janez Janša), Nova okna (New windows, 2005), Sekira v medu (Selected poems, 2006) and Delo in dom (Work and home, 2007). A selection of his poems, Zapach herbaty(2002) was published by Studium publishers, Krakow.
Pick up castaway skates and glide
across frozen pavements.
Point-blank honed, cut into the surface
and let the legs with the skates be one.
...
My friend is an existentialist. He collects china
and Japanese teapots. You get the best cup of tea at his place.
Steeped to perfection. It may not be a true ceremony
but in our drinking, when we sit around the table,
...
Forgive me for being so inconsiderate
praise from the people close to you matters most
love is a rushing homeland on a bicycle
and war only frightful news on people's tongues
...
Boy, where are you skating, in your anger
you have lost your bearings.
There is a universe attracting you
and your skates take leave of the ground.
...
Will you always skate alone.
Will your skating pay off.
Skater, the music blusters out of silence
stronger,
...