DANNIE ABSE

Jottings 1
Inspiration

Above Professor Einstein's bed
a portrait of Isaac Newton.
One night Einstein bit an apple and
that portrait fell upon his head.


Jottings 2
Transgression

When Eve held in her right hand
the forbidden apple
nothing happened.
So she took a little bite,
a cautious little bite,
and nothing happened.
The great sun shone,
the waterfall fell,
the Paradise birds continued to sing,
so she took another bite
and then another bite,
munch munch munch,
until she'd swallowed the whole damned thing
 

Mazgaleli 1
Inspiratie

Deasupra patului profesorului Einstein
se afla un portret al lui Isaac Newton.
Intr-o seara Einstein a muscat dintr-un mar
si portretul i-a cazut in cap.


Mazgaleli 2
Transgresie

Cand Eva a tinut in mana dreapta
fructul interzis,
nu s-a intamplat nimic.
Asa ca a luat o inghititura,
O inghititura mica, precauta,
Si nu s-a intamplat nimic.
Soarele maret stralucea,
Apa cadea in cascade,
Pasarile paradisului cantau in continuare,
Asa ca ea lua inca o inghititura,
Si inca una,
Ront ront ront,
Pana cand a inghitit toata dracovenia.

Translated by Maria-Daniela Oancea