Poem
Efrat Mishori
METALLIC WING
“What is it that you mean, mother,Eye lit in a moist tunnel of dark –
What is it that you scheme, mother,
Head flickering a reproachful remark.”
“I mean nothing at all, daughter,
Wounded arrow, outstretched hand, severed ear,
I scheme nothing at all, daughter,
Disjoint body rocking the dwellings of fear.”
“What is it that you let fly, mother,
Handle wrapped in a queer piece of skin –
What is it that you hold high, mother,
Metallic wing in its socket, beating unseen.”
“I let fly nothing at all, daughter,
Desperate kite, open orifice, maladied crown,
I hold high nothing at all, daughter,
Baby’s thigh, weary flag, cheek cast down.”
“What is it that you chase off, mother,
Childhood sunk in a barrel of mire –
What is it that you erase, mother,
From the ceiling swings a red wire.”
“I chase off nothing at all, daughter,
Trembling frame, failing knee, finger numb,
I erase nothing at all, daughter,
Rinsed knife, clean floor, bandaged arm.”
© Translation: 2004, Anat Schultz
METALLIC WING
© 1996, Efrat Mishori
From: As Far As Efrat
Publisher: Ha-kibbutz ha-meuchad,
From: As Far As Efrat
Publisher: Ha-kibbutz ha-meuchad,
Poems
Poems of Efrat Mishori
Close
METALLIC WING
“What is it that you mean, mother,Eye lit in a moist tunnel of dark –
What is it that you scheme, mother,
Head flickering a reproachful remark.”
“I mean nothing at all, daughter,
Wounded arrow, outstretched hand, severed ear,
I scheme nothing at all, daughter,
Disjoint body rocking the dwellings of fear.”
“What is it that you let fly, mother,
Handle wrapped in a queer piece of skin –
What is it that you hold high, mother,
Metallic wing in its socket, beating unseen.”
“I let fly nothing at all, daughter,
Desperate kite, open orifice, maladied crown,
I hold high nothing at all, daughter,
Baby’s thigh, weary flag, cheek cast down.”
“What is it that you chase off, mother,
Childhood sunk in a barrel of mire –
What is it that you erase, mother,
From the ceiling swings a red wire.”
“I chase off nothing at all, daughter,
Trembling frame, failing knee, finger numb,
I erase nothing at all, daughter,
Rinsed knife, clean floor, bandaged arm.”
© 2004, Anat Schultz
From: As Far As Efrat
From: As Far As Efrat
METALLIC WING
“What is it that you mean, mother,Eye lit in a moist tunnel of dark –
What is it that you scheme, mother,
Head flickering a reproachful remark.”
“I mean nothing at all, daughter,
Wounded arrow, outstretched hand, severed ear,
I scheme nothing at all, daughter,
Disjoint body rocking the dwellings of fear.”
“What is it that you let fly, mother,
Handle wrapped in a queer piece of skin –
What is it that you hold high, mother,
Metallic wing in its socket, beating unseen.”
“I let fly nothing at all, daughter,
Desperate kite, open orifice, maladied crown,
I hold high nothing at all, daughter,
Baby’s thigh, weary flag, cheek cast down.”
“What is it that you chase off, mother,
Childhood sunk in a barrel of mire –
What is it that you erase, mother,
From the ceiling swings a red wire.”
“I chase off nothing at all, daughter,
Trembling frame, failing knee, finger numb,
I erase nothing at all, daughter,
Rinsed knife, clean floor, bandaged arm.”
© 2004, Anat Schultz
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère