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.

Ramona Zamfirescu

Maggie Sawkins

O pereche de urechi micute

Am venit sa traduc tacerea.
Am cumparat hartie si creioane
Si o pereche de urechi micute.

Te rog
sa nu ma deranjezi
pana nu termin.

Mai intai, voi desface urechile
si le voi pune cu fata in jos,
pe podea.

O sa-ti dai seama de cat de ciudate sunt
aceste adancituri micute
aceste punti de os.

Ele asteapta sunetul
ultim –
nimic nu e permis,

nici macar bazaitul intermitent
al unei muste, nici macar o bataie in zid.

Trebuie sa-ti controlezi respiratia
sa inveti rabdarea –
sa scapi de orice ganduri hoinare.

In curand, urechile vor incepe
sa tremure – si vor apuca incet
creioanele de langa ele.

Asculta cu atentie –
un cuvant urmeaza
sa fie scris.