Concrete Paradises

Concrete Paradises




She wondered

how many children

were hiding behind the trees

in the orchard?

How many chicks have hatched

in the garden?


What’s left?


The birds flew away,

the children left with their grandchildren.

Even the cherry tree that always bloomed

begins to die back.


She understood that

everything in life has its course.


Some fight for nature,

others just pretend to do it.


There are also those

who love concrete paradises

- they do not let nature live.


For them, to have


– is more than to be.



Eliza Segiet




Translated by Artur Komoter

Eliza Segiet graduated with a Master's Degree in Philosophy, completed postgraduate studies in Cultural Knowledge, Philosophy, Arts and Literature at Jagiellonian University.

Author’s poems Questions and Sea of Mists won the title of the International Publication of the Year 2017 and 2018 in Spillwords Press. Nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2019, Naji Naaman Literary Prize 2020, iWoman Global Awards 2020 Author's works can be found in Ariel Chart, Spillwords and anthologies and literary magazines worldwide.