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 still don’t know –
How they keep safe? Where they go?

Corina Chelmus

Anne Stewart: The Interpreter’s House

Sani

Intr-o zi, cand sanii mei inca mai erau in dubii
si am trezit-o pe sora mea dimineata,
am intrebat-o totusi unde-i pui noaptea?
Mi-a spus – Nu-ti face griji. Se descurca ei.
Imi imaginam cum se fereau de bratele ei cand se tot rasucea
Si cand s-a intors, cum ii ieseau de sub coaste.
In curand, ii purtam pe ai mei dupa un scut, ma gandeam, de brate incrucisate,
dand glas tare soaptelor lor.
Ce vieti interesante au dus!
Ai ei au tinut patru copii. Geamana sa
are patru fiice si ele au sase copii la randul lor.
Atat de multi sani si saruturi! Asemenea saruturi.
Toata dragostea, si anii au zburat si eu inca nu stiu –
Cum isi poarta de grija? Unde se duc?