Sul Campo Del Mare - Vilenica

V2-2010.PM52786/13/100, 12:14 PM.Agne ŽagrakalytėApathy, My SisterAgain – coarse glass blinkersthe iron’s sweet murmuringsexhaustion artfully quivers thingsbut behind my back, lowing, standsApathy, my sister –she could sing more quietly,the air is thick, in the throat –the jelly of everyday,on my shoulder her gentle biteblossoms like a brand, be marked –she lows, “eyes closed mancoloured dress” –my face a fleshy peony,a slipping smoke wall.Rustling darkens the laundry,tearing petals, flaccid tonguesthis is my song and this is myeyesclosedmancoloureddress,please, but she turns on the tapsand slams my petal lamenting throatinto the drain.When I wipe up the floorand lick my bitten shoulderand the silence liquefies on my cheek,rolls into my ear,I am already happy that her stayhas ended, my youngersister has left –(we cannot choose blood)holding my head gently in my hands I rockand carry her to soak, the peony’s redalready fadingthe ice clinks in the vase when singingI flip my head over and chattering, watchthe happy leafing –“eyes closed man coloured dress” –I’m alone, butno, no –she has made herself comfortable in a corner,sit, knits and grins hideously.29. 5. 2005Translated by Medeinë Tribinevičius278