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.

Dana Constantinescu

Katherine Gallagher

Paznicul

Vrei sa fiu paznicul farului? Fie.

Ma voi instala intr-o casa spiralata

Insotita doar de carti si o pisica.

Voi descoperi cum arata marea

Ravasita, cum tipetele pasarilor

Sunt niste valuri unduitoare.

Voi avea puterea sa ma privesc in ochi

Cand ma chiorasc in telescop,

Voi infrunta tacerile invesmantate ca norii calatori.

Nimeni n-o sa stie cat pretuiesc

Felul in care radiaza luminile vaselor,

Cat tanjesc dupa vizitele lor.

Ma voi tintui, ii voi invata pe oameni

Sa se tina la distanta,

Poate chiar voi indragi convietuirea cu marea

Imi voi arunca ancora, voi uita orasul,

Forta sa, dupa fosnetul

marii.