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.

Elena Dumitrascu

Maggie Sawkins
 

Data necunoscuta

Voi urca pe o carare
presarata cu plopi,
cerul va fi albastru si senin.

In mana mea, se va legana o servieta goala,
mirosind a lavanda.

Un pacient va trece rapid pe langa mine,
in impermeabil si papuci stacojii,
ia eu imi voi inclina capul.

In fata unui rond de gazon si a unei fantani gotice,
va fi o cladire din caramida rosie,
care ar putea trece drept palat, desi nu este.

Ea se va sprijini intr-un intrand de sticla,
cu lumina in par,
precum fetele din picturile lui Hopper,
doar ca ea va zambi.

Voi merge spre ea,
ii voi lua gramajoara de haine,
ii voi desclesta mainile.

De nicaieri, va aparea un doctor
care sa-i ureze numai bine.

Cand ne vom intoarce, ca sa plecam,
chipuri ne vor fixa de la ferestre fumurii,
flori se vor pleca in fata noastra,
copaci se vor smulge din radacini,
apoi le vor creste aripi si vor zbura.