“My mama asked after your death. . . .”

by Tadeusz Dąbrowski

translated from the Polish by Jennifer Carter-Zielińska

My mama asked after your death for
anything and shortly she dreamed of a ray
coming down from heaven she clutched it like
a straw aunt and uncle also clutched and

nana and cousin and the ray snapped. Now
it hangs high above us resembling
sackcloth string. When the wind blows

its tip traces in the transparent air
invisible letters.

 

Tadeusz Dąbrowski (b. 1979) is a Polish poet, essayist, and critic who has won, among other honors, the Hubert Burda Prize (2008) and, from Tadeusz Różewicz, the Prize of the Foundation for Polish Culture (2006). His first collection to appear in English will soon be released by Zephyr Press. He lives in Gdańsk. (5/2009)

Jennifer Carter-Zielińska, an American freelance translator, lives in Sopot, Poland. In addition to numerous commercial and scientific translations, she has published translations of work by Kazimierz Wierzyński, Andrzej Wajda, and Zbigniew Rossa. (5/2009)