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 impinse barca glasului sau firav
Sa afle pana unde poate ajunge. Plutea
Fara el, in voia sortii, printre sloiuri de gheata.

Un glas vulnerabil pe o mare indiferenta,
Care-si intoarce spatele urias, incolor. Oare cum i s-ar auzi
La pol, unde atatia si atatia s-au prapadit deja?

Pe sub gheturi, pestii urlau la pruncii
De curand inecati. Balenele plescaiau fornaind
A dezaprobare. Creaturi cu dinti isi dezlantuiau

Puterile, iar vocile lor se inaltau inspre cer
Precum cladirile. Parca toata lumea ii era impotriva
Si un glas firav de copil, ca al lui, era sortit pieirii,

Fiindca pe intinderile arctice n-ai nici o sansa
Si toate, chiar si dragostea, ingheata si dispare
Sau se crapa in doua cand se lasa noaptea cea lunga.

Dar ea era atenta la copilul cu glas din adanc. Isi infofolise
Bine urechile. Totusi uite: si acolo, si aici!...
L-a auzit si s-a lasat in jos cu ostiile

Neclintite pe deasupra apei. Stii, mama,
Ce frica mi-e de gerul de la polul nord? Metafora
Fiului tau plange. Ai grija...

Traducere: Monica Manolachi (MA student)