Katherine Gallagher

Keeper

You want me to be a lighthouse-keeper? Fine.
I'll set myself up in a spiralled house

with only books and the cat for company.

I'll learn how the sea looks

turned inside out, how bird cries

are thin winding scarves escaping.

I'll handle looking myself in the eye

when I peer down the telescope,

meet silences ragged as runaway clouds.

No one will know how I value

the way the ships' lights radiate,

how I long for their visits.

I'll stay my ground, teach people

to keep their distance,

maybe get to love this sea-life

drop my anchor, forget the city,

its solidity, after the ribbed

slip and slap of sea.

Ionela Maria Adam

Katherine Gallagher

Gardianul

Vrei sa fiu gardianul farului? Bine.

O sa ma stabilesc intr-o casa in forma de spirala

Doar cartile si pisica-mi vor tine companie

Voi invata cum arata marea

Zbuciumata, cum ciripitul pasarilor

Este purtat ca o esarfa zburata de vant

Voi suporta privirea ochiului

Cand ma uit prin telescop

Voi intalni tacerea norilor fugari

Nimeni nu va sti cum valorific

Felul in care lumineaza vapoarele

Si cat de mult le astept vizita

Voi sta in banca mea, voi invata oamenii

Sa pastreze distanta

Poate chiar sa iubeasca aceasta viata de mare

Ridic ancora, uit de oras,

De rigiditatea lui. după

Fluxul şi refluxul mării