John Mackay

Anniversary

So I call you
And in between the second 6 and the final 9, I
Stumble, and mess the thing up, pray
That what clicks into life down the line
Is a prickly tone: No-one of that name here
Or someone who deafly yells, Len, is that you? Len…?
So I call you.
And after a palpitatory
pause, the ring kicks in, straight and true
reaching for the corners of that room
where we unzipped each other
out of the past; hatched plans in unlit afternoons.
So I call you
and as I’m calling you, my fist grips
white, and I’m remembering
how we fell silent
and let the phone ring and ring and ring.
 

Oana Teodora Ionescu

John Mackay

Aniversare
 

Te sun
Si intre al doilea 6 si ultimul 9, ma poticnesc,
incerc si gresesc, ma rog
ca ceea ce prinde viata la celalalt capat al firului
sa sune ca un ton intepat: Aici nu-i nimeni cu numele acesta.
Sau ca cineva care tipa asurzitor, Len, tu esti? Len...?
Asa ca te sun.
Dupa o pauza de nerabdare, suna, limpede si viu,
tonul raspandindu-se pana in colturile camerei
in care amandoi ne-am desprins de trecut
si am pus tara la cale in dupa-amieze intunecoase.
Asa ca te sun
si in timp ce formez, pumnu-mi inclestat devine palid
si imi amintesc cum am cazut in tacere
si am lasat telefonul sa sune si sa sune si sa sune