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.

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