ANNE STEWART

Breasts

One day, when my breasts were still thinking about it,
and I woke my older sister in the morning,
I asked her but where do you put them at night?
She told me — Don’t worry. They sort themselves out.
I imagined them ducking her upper arms as she tossed and turned
and, when she rolled over, levering themselves out from under her sides.
Soon, I was carrying mine behind a shield, I thought, of folded arms,
turning their whispers into a shout.

What exciting lives they’ve led!
Hers have four children between them. Her twin
has four daughters and they have six children between them.
So many breasts and kisses! Such kisses.
All the love, and the years flown and I still don’t know—
How they keep safe? Where they go?

Alexandra Sarbu

Anne Stewart
 

Sani
 

Intr-o zi, cand sanii mei inca se mai gandeau la asta,
si am trezit-o pe sora mea mai mare de dimineata,
am intrebat-o dar unde ii tii noaptea?
Ea mi-a spus – Nu-ti face griji. Se descurca ei.
Mi i-am inchipuit ferindu-se de bratele ei cand se intorcea in pat de pe-o parte pe alta
si, cand se rasucea, ii vedeam iesind de sub ea.
Curand, ii purtam pe ai mei dupa un scut, ma gandeam, de brate incrucisate,
schimband soaptele lor in strigate.

Ce viata palpitanta au avut!
Ai ei au patru copii intre ei. Geamanul ei
are patru fete iar ei au sase copii intre ei.
Atatia sani si sarutari! Ce sarutari.
Cu toata dragostea si anii ce au trecut si eu tot nu stiu –
Cum de sunt in siguranta? Unde se duc?