MAGGIE SAWKINS

Date Unknown

I will walk up a path
policed by poplars
the sky will be cloudless and blue.

In my hand an empty suitcase
scented with lavender,
swinging.

A patient will skitter past
in raincoat and scarlet slippers
and I’ll tip my head.

In front of a circle of lawn
and gothic fountain
will be a redbrick building

that could be a mansion but isn’t.

She’ll be leaning against
a glass doorway
with lightness in her hair

like a girl from a Hopper painting,
except she is smiling.

I will walk towards her,
take her bundle of clothes,
unbuckle her hands.

A doctor will appear
as if from nowhere to wish
her well.

As we turn to go faces will stare
from darkened windows,
flowers will curtsey

trees uproot themselves
sprout wings
and fly.

Dorina Burcea

Maggie Sawkins
 

Data necunoscuta
 

“Voi pasi pe o alee
strajuita de plopi
cerul va fi albastru si senin.

In mana-mi o valiza goala
cu miros de levantica
se va balansa.

Un pacient va trece in fuga pe langa mine
in pelerina de ploaie si papuci purpurii
iar eu il voi saluta cu o miscare a capului.

In fata unei peluze rotunde
si a unei fantani gotice
va fi o cladire rosie de caramida

ce ar putea fi un conac, dar nu este.

Ea va sta sprijinita de
usile de sticla
cu paru-i auriu

ca o fata dintr-un tablou de Hopper,
numai ca ea zambeste.

Ma voi indrepta catre ea,
voi lua gramada de haine
si ii voi elibera mainile.

Un doctor va aparea
parca de nicaieri sa ii ureze
toate cele bune.

Cand ne vom intoarce sa plecam, priviri ne vor fixa,
de la ferestre intunecate
florile vor face reverente

copacii se vor dezradacina
aripi le vor inmuguri
si vor zbura.