EVA SALZMAN
Brooklyn Bridge
(designed by Roebling and finished by his daughter-in-law Emily)

This one's mine: not a nail-less Bridge of Sighs
nor a stage, where enemies or film crews shoot
but trembling on a net of "wheres" and "whys",
part Asses' Bridge, part Al-Sirat, less Iron Brute,

more hunkering church, grown from Gothic grey,
its cables spun from spiders bred in books.
That dark harp was made for me to play.
And however dark, I couldn't help but look

at ever darker slights, their height and girth
stringing me high above the traffic's hum.
I was harnessed by a yoke of fear, from birth,
less myself while adding to that sum -

the way the architect's now ailing daughter
laid her father's body, right across the water

EVA SALZMAN
Podul Brooklyn
(proiectat de Roebling si terminat de nora acestuia, Emily)

Asta e al meu: nu o fara-de-cuie Punte de Suspine
nici o scena, unde actorii sa se-mpuste-n voie,
ci tremurul unui navod cu “unde” si “dece” il tine,
parte Podu’ Magarilor, parte Al-Sirat, Bruta de Fier doar de nevoie,

mai mult biserica nitel chircita, crescuta-n gotic cenusiu,
cu cabluri depanate de paianjeni aciuiti prin carti.
Acea harfa intunecata fu pentru mine mestesugita, ca Orfeu sa fiu.
Si, oricit de bezna-ar fi, nu pot sa nu ma uit – nu, nu in harti,

ci la de-a pururi negrele indiferente, inalte, groase,
ce ma atirna la-naltime, deasupra biziitului din trafic.
M-au inhamat la jugul fricii de la nastere, de-acasa,
sint mai putin eu, cind ma adauga la suma, sint mai mic—

la fel cum fiica arhitectului, indurerata,
intinse trupul tatalui, de-a dreptul peste apa.
 

Traducere: Cristina Nistor