Menna Elfyn 'Snowman/Dyn Eira'

MENNA ELFYN.

(A series of poems with translations from the Welsh by Gillian Clarke, Elin ap Hywel, Joseph Clancy, & Tony Conran)

Cell Angel.

Snowman (Dyn Eira)

How simple the one we build

born in an hour. From a white embryo

with quick hands. Solid,

looking over his shoulder

he is the longing we keep

disarmed

without future.

Many snowballs away

are the high peaks that make a man

build a chimney from white dust

where low flying snow drives

paws to the lair. Cornered.

Above, the sleepless helicopters

scold the earth's linen

till hindering night comes

frowning over the drifts

                                  and the land

so dumb with cold, so still. The hours

turn strange, counting the cruel curse

that pours down plague. Then rescue comes,

men's footprints on the path which tripped him

and they bear him above their own tracks

freshly punctuating the snow

each bone, each knuckle part of the faith

in human summits,

the yearning to connect. To concede

to experience. So the clean language of snow

is stumble-tongued

so men may carry generosity

higher than Everest,

low as a crib.

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