MIREL BRISCA IS A ROMANIAN POET entering the first decade after the teen years: the twenties. These poems (two of which, “self-portrait” and “another sign” were first published in January 2000’s three candles) document refined introspection, a very impressive start on the journey into the center of self. Poetry like this should remind us that we must take care of ourselves and with that secure we can move on to help others.

So now I will show off my few words of Romanian from an encounter long ago: paftim. I think this spells the word “here”—so here take these words of delicately intricate humanity. These words are from a person who surely has said something like, te iubesc, “I love you.”