Dina Climatiano

Downpour

(translated from Hebrew, original by Rona Kenan)

If we survive the downpour this time

it will change every smile, taint it.

If I let myself go on and on and on

you’ll stay put for twenty years, or till end of day.

We learned to wait, relent, be on alert,

be patient, and watch out for every word.

And in one quick gust we’ll freeze

if we get a moment to linger in relief

to embrace and turn to leave

as if anyone can ever truly learn to let go

or love no more.

With a wild, wide grin I will come collect what’s mine,

break your walls and bring you back to life (though)

you won’t find anything as whole as pain that hums and moans

and drones along

in some other song.

And in one quick gust we’ll freeze

if we get a moment to linger in relief

to embrace and turn to leave

as if anyone can ever truly learn to let go

or love no more.

To embrace and turn to leave…

As if anyone can ever truly learn to let go

or love…