MAGGIE SAWKINS

The Birds

She got used to the birds
flying around the house

except for the days
when their cawing filtered
through the floorboards

and even the dog was afraid.

When friends or relations came
the birds disappeared through the windows
and waited on the roof top
or under the eaves.

One day the cawing stopped.

The birds settled in the silence
like a big black cloud.

In her bedroom she built a cage
and the birds flew in
one by one.

Weeks later she returned from school
found her mother and father
in the kitchen - kissing.

From her room she could hear
the flutter of a million tiny wings.

The door opened and the birds
glided through the house

weightless and blue.

Alexandra Sarbu

Maggie Sawkins
 

Pasarile
 

Se obisnuise cu pasarile
zburand in jurul casei

mai putin in zilele
cand croncanitul lor patrundea
in scandurile de dusumea.

si pana si cainele se temea.

Cand prieteni sau rude veneau
pasarile dispareau prin ferestre
si asteptau pe acoperis
sau pe sub stresini.

Intr-o zi croncanitul a incetat.

Pasarile s-au asezat in tacerea
ca un mare nor negru.

In camera ei a facut o mare colivie
iar pasarile au zburat inauntru
una cate una.

Saptamani mai tarziu se intorcea de la scoala
si i-a gasit pe mama si tatal ei
in bucatarie – sarutandu-se.

Din camera ei a putut auzi
falfairea a un milion de aripi mici.

Usa s-a deschis si pasarile
au plutit prin casa

usoare si albastre.