GEORGE SZIRTES

The Child as Metaphor

The child pushed out the boat of his small voice
To see how far it would go. It floated free
Of him, drifting between blocks of ice.

Endangered voice on an indifferent sea
Turning its vast grey back: how would he sound
At the pole where so many had died already?

Under the ice fish screamed at newly drowned
Babies. Whales clicked their tongues and boomed
Disapproval. Creatures with teeth unbound

Their powers and terrifying voices loomed
Like buildings. It seemed the world was against him,
That any child's voice as small as his was doomed

Because there at the arctic all chances are slim
And everything, even love, freezes and disappears
Or snaps in two as the long night draws in.

So she listened to the deep voiced-child. Her ears
Were muffed against the cold but there, and there!
She heard him and she leaned down with her spears

Poised over the water. Mothers, the air
Is dangerous at the north pole. The metaphor
That is your son is crying out. Beware.

GEORGE SZIRTES

Copilul ca metafora

Copilul a-mpins barca vocii sale firave
Sa vada cat de departe o sa mearga. A plutit desprinsa
De el, lunecand printre blocuri de gheata.

Voce-n primejdie pe-o mare nepasatoare
Ce-si intoarce spatele gri si urias: cum ar suna el oare
La pol unde atatia deja au pierit ?

Sub gheata pestii tipau la bebelusii
Nou-inecati. Balene limba-si pocneau vuind
Dezaprobare. Creaturi cu colti si-au dezlantuit

Fortele si voci inspaimantatoare s-au inaltat
Ca niste cladiri. Se parea ca lumea-i statea impotriva,
Ca orice voce de copil la fel de firava ca a lui era osandita

Caci acolo in lumea arctica toate sansele-s infime
Si totul, chiar dragostea insasi, ingheata si se stinge
Sau se frange in doua cand noaptea cea lunga se-ntinde.

Asa ca ea asculta copilul cu voce profunda. Urechile
Si le-acoperise de frig, dar ici si colo
Il auzi si se inclina purtandu-si sagetile

Deasupra apei. Mamelor, aerul
Este periculos la polul nord. Metafora
Care este fiul vostru striga. Aveti grija.
 

Traducere: Elena-Carmen Bobocescu (PhD student)