SHARON MORRIS

Born from the Head

I have to speak the unspeakable —
we are all animal, even Athene-Minerva,
born from the head of the father.

The goddess who killed the human giant
Pallas and stripped his skin for her own;
who helped behead Medusa, displaying
the face of the Gorgon monster on her shield.
Steel-eyes of resistance, sheathed
in armour, she wore the helmet of war.

Yet, if the sea level were to rise, I would trust her
to build a raft for our escape,
and if given a horse I know she could have made a bridle;
for she was the kind of woman who cultivated,
carefully, an olive tree on barren ground,
and although she had no children of her own
she fostered good friendships.

And like her, there is a comforting female line
to your jaw like a leopard’s.

Alina-Olimpia Gaci (Miron)

Sharon Morris
 

Din teasta tatalui sau nascuta
 

Trebuie sa graiesc ceea ce nu poate fi spus –
cu totii suntem animale, chiar si Atena-Minerva,
din teasta tatalui sau nascuta.

Zeita care l-a ucis pe gigantul uman
Pallas, jupuindu-l si insusindu-si pielea sa;
care a ajutat la decapitarea Medusei, chipul
Gorgonei ramanand incremenit pe scutul ei.
Cu-ai sai ochi potrivnici de otel, invesmantata in armura, ea purta casca razboiului.

Si totusi, dac-ar navali apele, pun temei
ca ne-ar construi o pluta ca sa putem scapa,
si daca i s-ar da un cal, stiu ca i-ar fi putut face
un capastru;
Deoarece era genul de femeie care cultiva,
cu grija, un maslin pe tarana stearpa,
si, desi nu a avut copii
incuraja prieteniile valoroase.

Iar asemeni ei, falca ta ca de leopard
are o trasatura feminina si mangaietoare.