Gabriel Griffin

Lament for an illegal immigrant

No moon, but fishermen

are used to that and the sea’s chanting,

the descant of the nets. The decks

silvered with sea verses,

the minims and trebles of fish

hushed into songbooks of ice.

Something didn’t sing, humped

in the net, thudding onto the deck.

Its ears heard no notes, its eyes

were blind to the men standing round,

its throat choked with words

that no-one would hear.

They let the sly octopus

sidle to the ship’s side, forgot to stop

the arch and leap of bream.

The sea moaned, the fish

slipped out of tune, the kittiwakes

hurled screeches like broken strings.

The men unfroze, thumped

what didn’t sing, what was lost for words, over the hissing deck. Tipped what had

no hope, had never had a hope,

back to the sea. No

word, no hymn, no prayer.

But the rags of its clothes cried. The sea

beat its fists on the boat. And the wind got up

and howled till dawn.

Reluta Paune

Gabriel Griffin

Tanguirea pentru un imigrant ilegal

Nu luna, ci pescarii

Sunt folositi pentru aceasta, si cantecul marii,

Melodia plaselor de peste. Puntea,

Stralucind de versurile marii,

Cantitaea mica sau mare de peste

A fost transformata in carti de cantece ale ghetii.

Unul nu a cantat, suparat

In plasa, a tasnit pe punte.

Urechile lui nu au auzit nici o nota, ochii lui Nu au putut vedea oamenii ce stateau in jur, Gatul a fost sugrumat de cuvinte

Pe care nimeni nu le va auzi vreodata.

Au lasat caracatita sireata

Sa se furiseze pe de o parte a corabiei, Uitand sa opreasca bolta, sa sara o platica. Marea se tanguia, pestele

Pierdea adesea tonul, stolurile de pasari

Isi aruncau sunetele precum sunt aruncate sforile rupte.

Oamenii au dezghetat, au ingramadit

Pe cei ce nu cantau, pe cei fara cuvinte,

Pe puntea suieratoare. Au adunat ce era fara speranta,

Sau nu avusese vreodata speranta,

Inapoi in mare. Nici un cuvant,

Nici un imn, nici o rugaciune.

Dar ramasitele hainelor acestuia plangeau. Marea se dezlantuia pe barca. Iar vantul s-a ridicat

Si a urlat pana in zori.