Two hands, lowered, touching lightly,
Resting on an infant’s head!
Two small heads were once beside me —
One for every hand.
But from utter darkness– grueling —
Fierce — and not to be outdone! —
I, with both, the eldest pulling —
Couldn’t save the younger one.
My two hands — to stroke — to pat
Locks of hair, so light and airy.
My two hands — and, just like that,
One became unnecessary.
Golden — on her skinny neck —
Like a dandelion crowned!
I have not learned to accept
That my baby’s in the ground.
Две руки, легко опущенные
На младенческую голову!
Были — по одной на каждую —
Две головки мне дарованы.
Но обеими — зажатыми —
Яростными — как могла! —
Старшую у тьмы выхватывая —
Младшей не уберегла.
Две руки — ласкать-разглаживать
Нежные головки пышные.
Две руки — и вот одна из них
За ночь оказалась лишняя.
Светлая — на шейке тоненькой —
Одуванчик на стебле!
Мной ещё совсем не понято,
Что дитя моё в земле.
«So what if I'd gone through it all? / It's been a while. I don't recall. / I can't recall dates any more, / nor the locations of attacks. (I am one atom of that war, / a nameless private. I came back. / I am one shot's mistaken trace, / I'm bloody ice of January. / I am imprisoned ...»
«And all that's needed is to look, that's all it takes: / To look indeed, and be a little more attentive, / And you will stay, becoming instantly a captive / Of these two eyes, their unanticipated depth. / And all that's needed is to read, that's all it takes: / To read indeed, and over eve...»
«Taken cruelly from me, snatched out, / Crying desperately for me nightly, / Childlike shoulders in a plain black gown, — / Best of treasures, unreturned by the Almighty, I implore you by the past, the present — / Do not follow me with deer-like eyes, please, / Sleep in peace, don’...»
«Everybody chooses for himself: / His belief, his woman and his road, / To serve the devil or to serve the prophet. / Everybody chooses for himself. We pick the things that only fit ourselves: / The words of love and prayers which we whisper, / Dueling blades to fight and swords t...»