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.

Cristina Nistor

Katherine Gallagher

Paznic

 
Vrei sa iti fiu paznic la far? Prea bine.
Am sa ma instalez in casa in spirala
numai cu cartile si mita sa-mi tina companie.

Am sa aflu cum arata marea
intoarsa pe dos, cum tipetele pasarilor
sint esarfe subtirele, serpuitoare, care evadeaza.

Am sa ma pot privi in ochi
atunci cind iscodesc prin telescop,
dau peste taceri zdrentuite precum norii fugari.

Nimenea n-o sa stie cum pretuiesc
felul in care radiaza luminile vapoarelor,
cit mi-e de dor de vizitele lor.

Am sa ramin pe pozitii, ii invat pe oameni
sa pastreze distanta,
poate-o sa indragesc viata asta pe mare

o sa-mi arunc ancora, sa uit orasul,
trainicia lui, dupa miscarea
sacadata, de du-te vino a marii.