Yunna Morits
Face
I would like, my father said,
to see your face once more!
Before me a blind man sat,
with pupils blueing over.
My father said: Understand,
there are clouds before my eyes.
With my lips and with my hands,
I want to see your face.
He reached into the air
his sun-browned arms and hands.
Anticipation, fear
played round his smiling mouth.
But my spirit would not submit!
The wild beast in me rose up.
I slammed the door. I fled!
. . . Adrift from poplar trees,
the fluff clung to my face,
in the lilac I sank my head.
My father, it must be said,
was out of luck that day!
Now, turning to the wall,
he closed his sightless eyes,
and the visions standing there
made the tears start in mine.
Leaves, grass, grit I rubbed
into my cheeks, my brow.
Things, it must be said,
were not going father’s way!
It was in a secret place
I hid my love, as such –
Old sir, this is my face,
this lake. Touch!
Translated by Daniel Weissbort
Page(s) 131
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