07 feb.
„The Inquest” de W.H. Davies
| I took my oath I would inquire, Without affection, hate, or wrath, Into the death of Ada Wright – So help me God! I took that oath. |
“Jur fără patimă sau ură Să aflu adevăr curat Asupra morții Adei Wright – Ajută Doamne!” Așa-am jurat. |
| When I went out to see the corpse, The four months’ babe that died so young, I judged it was seven pounds in weight, And little more than one foot long. |
Ducându-mă să văd cadavrul – Un prunc ce a pierit de mic – Am zis că are patru kile, Și-i doar mai lung ca un pisic. |
| One eye, that had a yellow lid, Was shut – so was the mouth, that smiled; The left eye open, shining bright – It seemed a knowing little child. |
Închisă-i era gura-n zâmbet Închis și galben ochiul drept; Cel stâng deschis, strălucitor: Copila îmi zâmbea-nțelept, |
| For as I looked at that one eye, It seemed to laugh, and say with glee: ‘What caused me death you’ll never know – Perhaps my mother murdered me.’ |
Căci ochiul ce-l priveam părea Să spună cesel ca prin vis: “De ce-am murit nu vei afla – Mămica, poate, m-a ucis”. |
| When I went into court again, To hear the mother’s evidence – It was a love-child, she explained. And smiled, for our intelligence. |
Întors curând la tribunal, Ascult a mamei mărturie: “Copil din flori e”, ne explică, Zâmbind cu înțeles, nurlie. |
| ‘Now, Gentlemen of the Jury, said The coroner – ‘this woman’s child By misadventure met its death.’ ‘Aye, aye,’ said we. The mother smiled. |
“Jurați, ne spune procurorul, Copila tinerei femei A decedat din întâmplare.” “Da”, zicem. Râd și ochii ei. |
| And I could see that child’s one eye Which seemed to laugh, and say with glee: ‘What caused my death you’ll never know – Perhaps my mother murdered me.’ |
Dar ochiul pruncii îl vedem Că-mi râde vesel ca prin vis: “De ce-am murit nu vei afla – Mămica, poate, m-a ucis.” |
W. H. Davies | traducere de Andrei Bantaș |