MAGGIE SAWKINS

Charcot’s pet
 

Before my voice disappeared
like a rabbit up a sleeve
I wanted to be a singer
in the Folies Bergère.

The doctor is a kind man
he keeps me warm,
he feeds me seed cake
and Assam tea.

But sometimes he makes me crawl.
Pick up the crumbs
my little goose.

At night I lie beside him
more silent than a blade of grass.
I allow his cold fingertips
to circle my heart.

Tomorrow, he says,
I must rehearse for the show
in the auditorium of the Saltpêtrière.
The doctors will love me!

He has made me a hat
of peacock feathers.
He has taught me to bark.

When he stares into my eyes
he can make me do anything

But he can’t make me sing.

Laura Maria Berteanu

Maggie Sawkins
 

Animalul de companie al lui Charcot

Inainte ca vocea sa-mi dispara
ca un iepure pe-o maneca
voiam sa fiu cantareata
la Folies Bergère.

Doctorul e om bun
are grija sa-mi fie cald
si ma hraneste cu prajituri de seminte
si ceai Assam.

Uneori insa, ma pune sa ma tarasc.
Aduna firimiturile
gasculita mea.

Toata noaptea stau intinsa langa el
mai tacuta decat un fir de iarba.
Permit varfurilor degetelor lui reci
sa-mi incercuiasca inima.

Maine, spune el,
trebuie sa repet pentru spectacolul
de la amfiteatrul Saltpêtrière.
Doctorii o sa ma adore!

Mi-a facut o palarie
din pene de paun.
M-a invatat sa latru.

Cand ma priveste fix in ochi
ma convinge sa fac orice.

Dar nu ma poate face sa cant.