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 impins in larg barca vocii lui firave
Sa vada pana unde merge. A plutit desprinsa
De el, ratacind printre blocuri de gheata.

Voce vulnerabila pe o mare straina
Ce-si intorcea spinarea intinsa, cenusie: cum oare o sa se auda
La polul unde atatia altii au pierit pana acum?

Sub gheata, pestii tipau la sugari abia
Inecati. Balenele plesneau din limba si vuiau
Indignate. Vietati cu dinti isi dezlantuiau

Puterile si voci amenintatoare se inaltau ca niste
Cladiri. Lumea intreaga parea pornita impotriva lui
Si orice voce de copil firava ca a lui, era sortita pieirii.

Fiindca acolo, la polul nord, toate sansele sunt slabe,
Si totul, chiar si iubirea, degera si moare
Ori crapa-n doua pe cand se lasa noaptea cea lunga.

Si l-a ascultat pe copilul cu voce din adanc. Urechile ei
Erau ferite de ger insa acolo, si dincolo!
L-a auzit si s-a aplecat cu harpoanele

Nemiscate deasupra apei. Mame, aerul
Este periculos la polul nord. Metafora
Care este fiul vostru, da strigat. Aveti grija.
 

Traducere: Oana Avornicesei