Song Of Translation
Liahm Blank / POETRY
it is dark outside,
and amber light drifts
between beige walls
dust on dust,
the trinkets line the shelves
a painting, a clock, a chipping statue
upstairs she sleeps
and they know she sleeps
so the world is muffled
downstairs, five children slump together
on the loveseat in the living room
cartoon network hums in the background
but it is quiet
and the children are quiet
floating between sleep and soft
through the fading fireplace,
the children squint at the dancing images
of saba and dad
as if underwater,
murky, puddled
tiger, says dad
no, says saba
lion, says dad
with spots, says saba, gesturing
leopard, says dad
yes, leopard, it is good
and this is how the night moves slowly, with words
as it is every evening
when dad visits saba
they sit with saba's poems
written in yiddish
and translate to english
before his words are forgotten
but saba does not know the word for leopard in english
nor flame, nor pineapple, nor birch
words on words
and dad chews the yiddish
and saba lights up
the word is exactly as it should be
it is good
the evening sways
the kids have no desire to listen to adult conversation
they drift to sleep
to the song of translation
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Liahm Blank is a poet, artist, and writer who was born and raised in Las Vegas. He is currently majoring in Biological Sciences as a freshman at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Honors College, and he hopes to publish a book of poetry. When Liahm is not writing or drawing, he enjoys playing basketball, baking, and making music.