Maggie Sawkins

A Pair of Small Ears

I have come to translate the silence.
I’ve bought paper and pencils
and a pair of small ears.

I ask you
not to disturb me
until the task is done.

First I will unwrap the ears
and place them face up
on the floor.

You will observe their strangeness
these tiny shallows
these bridges of bone.

They are waiting for the sound
of no sound—
nothing is permitted

not even the intermittent
buzz of a fly nor the tick of a wall.

You must soften your breath
learn patience—
shuffle along any vagrant thought.

Soon the ears will begin
to quiver—gently they will
pick up the pencils at their side.

Listen closely—
the word is about to be
written.

Veronica Stoianovici

Maggie Sawkins

O pereche de urechi mici

Am venit sa traduc linistea.
Am cumparat hartie si creioane
si o pereche de urechi mici.

Te rog
sa nu ma deranjezi
pana-mi termin treaba.

Imi voi desface urechile mai intai
si le voi aseza cu fata in sus
pe podea.

Vei observa ciudatenia lor
aceste orificii mici
aceste poduri de oase.

Ele asteapta sunetul
niciunui sunet –
nimic nu este permis

nici chiar bazaitul intermitent
al unei muste sau ciocanitul in perete.

Trebuie sa-ti domolesti respiratia
sa inveti ce inseamna rabdarea –
sa te strecori in fiecare gand ratacitor.

Curand urechile vor incepe
sa vibreze – si cu delicatete
vor pune creioanele la locul lor.

Asculta cu atentie –
cuvantul urmeaza sa fie scris.