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 definitivat de nora lui, Emily)

Pentru mine nu-i Puntea Suspinelor fara nituri
nici scena unde se trag gloante ori secvente de film
ci, suspendat de un paienjenis de unde? si de ce?-uri,
e ba Puntea asinilor, ba Al-Sirat – nu monstru citadin,

e inalta biserica intrupata din cenusiul gotic
pe cabluri urzite de paienjenii din carte.
Harpa apasatoare pentru umerii mei sorocita.
Si totusi privirea mea atintita trecea mai departe

la inaltul si inclestarea unor poveri si mai grele
ce ma atarnau sus, peste vuietul masinilor.
Injugata de la nastere intr-un jug de frica,
Nu atat eu insami cat asemenea lor –

la fel cum fiica suferinda a arhitectului pierit
i-a-ntins peste ape trupul neinsufletit.

Traducere: Oana Avornicesei