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.

Liliana Stefan

Maggie Sawkins
 

Animalutul lui Charcot

Inainte ca vocea mea sa dispara
ca un iepure pe maneca
vroiam sa devin cantareata
in teatrul Folies Bergère.

Doctorul este un om bun
imi tine cald
ma hraneste cu prajituri de seminte
si ceai de Assam.

Dar cateodata ma face sa ma tarasc.
Ciuguleste firimiturile
gasculita mea.

Noapte ma intind langa el
mai tacuta decat un fir de iarba.
ii las varfurile degetelor reci
sa-mi incercuiesca inima.

Maine, zice el,
Trebuie sa fac repetitii pentru spectacol
in auditoriul teatrului Saltpêtrière.
Doctorii ma voi iubi!

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

Cand se uita fix in ochii mei
ma face sa-nfaptuiesc orice

Dar nu ma poate face sa cant.