A Child in the Ghetto Surrounded by Letters

Aleph never came back today
But yesterday he was leaping all over me,
Calling me to play in the old oak tree,
The tender-coarse gold tree.
I bore him in my hand,
Tilting back and holding  him out in front of me.
Aleph, you are smarter than 1 am,
I was born foolish and silly.
'What's wrong, Basenka, why are you shaking?
Open your eyes, go wash your face.'
With a groan, little omega
Fell onto my finger like a ring.
Outside the window the willow tree rocked low to the ground,
Suddenly through the wall, a woman's deep voice
Screamed in cold terror, "Hurry,
Hide the child under the mattress."
Everything was gnashing and rumbling all around,
A stupid truck snorted.
And in my heart the letter shin
Burned three candles down in one short second.



Translated from the Russian by Stephanie Sandler