ANNE STEWART

Heath

There is sustenance or not. The only choice
is which way round this grain of soil.
Roots decide. They direct the way to grow,
half-aware of neighbours, rustling coarsely.

They have a job to do, food to find.
Others may be stifled as they extend
or, having richness, thicken and avoid intrusion.
Roots are blind and have no need of reason.

They give their colours to the heath. Purple here,
yellow, spiked and speared; a turbulence of green.
Above ground, all that can be sensed and known
is that the air tastes sharp; the wind blows.

Yet some are grown where red comes easy.
Choice is where to tread and why it pleases.

Alexandra Sarbu

Anne Stewart
 

Campie stearpa
 

Sunt sau nu mijloace de subzistenta. Singura alegere
este pe unde imprejurul acestui graunte de pamant.
Radacinile decid. Ele indruma calea de crestere,
putin atente la vecini, ce fosnesc aspru.

Ele au o datorie de-mplinit, mancare de gasit.
Altele pot fi inabusite cand cresc
sau, dand de bogatie, se pot ingrosa si evita intrusii.
Radacinile sunt oarbe si n-au nevoie de intelepciune.

Ele isi dau culorile campiei sterpe. Aici purpuriu,
galben, ghimpat si lanceolat; o fierbere de verde.
Deasupra pamantului, tot ce poate fi simtit si stiut
este ca aerul are un gust taios; vantul sufla.

Totusi unele au crescut unde rosul se gaseste lesne.
Alegerea ramane unde sa faci pasul si de ce seduce.