Slavs Are People of Bread

What’s good old golden bread?
A charm’s invocation,
finest common
magic spell.

Warm, fresh,
handmade,
ploughed field
and living breath.

Its ancient keys—
Пожалуйста! Будьте добры!
in Russian,
Молим вас! Будите љубазни!

in Serbian,
Prosím, buďte laskaví!
in Czech—
please, a code
of love,

unlocking
hearts and homes,
bridging shores—
be it seas
or Donbass steppe.

Bread,
a tender flame,
crust and shape,
mellow aid,

born of flour,
water, light—
of Heaven
and Earth—

ageless form
of mother’s
touch—

its throne—
a polished plate
on tablecloth
in calming ease.