MYRA SCHNEIDER

On Mondays

Mrs. Baker, who was paid
2/6 to do the washing,
lit a taper in the outhouse.
Violet petals sprang
from the glaring copper
which heaved its bulk till
it jittered.
Knickers were pummelled
in boiling water.

The air was tightly buttoned
and Louie knew
her Mother was more dangerous
than glowing coals.
Expectation of something terrible
rose higher than the suds.
The maids dared not snigger
secrets on the back stairs.
Daisy, the one
with a mouth moist as sponge,
who sometimes stroked Louie
and stuck fingers into her body's
shameful parts,
jumped at the slam of Mother's voice.

One Monday Louie saw
the knife slicing
cold lamb, sink
into Mother's finger.
Blood fountained, and her face
disappeared in a white
porcelain scream.

Louie's world slid like a jelly
off the table.
And for months blood-specked skirts
flapped after her
down the long streets of dreams.

Alina-Olimpia Gaci (Miron)

Myra Schneider
 

Lunea
 

Doamna Baker, care era platita
cu 2 lire si 6 penny pentru spalatul rufelor,
a aprins o lumanare in toaleta.
Petale de violete au rasarit
din cazanul de arama stralucitor
ce s-a inaltat pana a tresaltat.
Panataloni scurti erau indesati
in apa clocotita.

Atmosfera era incarcata
si Louie stia
ca Mama ei era mai periculoasa
decat carbunii incinsi.
Posibilitatea unui lucru ingrozitor
se arata mai ceva decat clabucii de sapun.
Servitoarele nu cutezau sa-si chicoteasca
secrete pe scarile din spate.
Daisy, cu gura-i umeda precum un burete,
care uneori o mangaia pe Louie
si-si infigea degetele-n partile intime
ale corpului acesteia,
a tresarit auzind vocea violenta a Mamei.

Intr-o luni Louie a vazut
cutitul ce taia
mielul rece, adancindu-se
in degetul Mamei.
Sangele a tasnit, iar fata-i
s-a facut nevazuta printr-un tipat alb
ca de portelan.

Lumea lui Louie a alunecat de pe masa
asemeni unui jeleu.
Si luni intregi fustele patate de sange
au fluturat in urma-i
in jos, pe lungile strazi de vis.