My sister

מיין שוועסטער

My sister 

My sister is ten years older than me.

The gardens by her window pray

to the wind:

Has the cherry tree already bloomed?

My sister brings home from the market 

fish and fleish,

And she takes out the eyes from the fish,

She taps the fat on the meat with a finger,

My sister with the sharp grin.

And when behind the chimneys, behind the roofs

The sun sets 

On the walls,

On the floor 

A strange and golden gleam(?)

It’s quenched, it goes out 

My sister 

spins her face around.

Her eyes are dark, like beer.

The red ribbons in her daughter’s hair 

bloom in the night,

like wild mushrooms

toadstools - 

She grabs, my sister grabs 

a cloth on her shoulder,

She bolts the windows 

And jams the door