THE AWAKENING ROOM II

oh had i never been in the awakening room
deaf and stranded and rocking in a white boat

tied alongside other boats – yes this is
the last harbor yes this is the damp canal

of sleep where threatening nurses in black
robes stand like judges on the shore

each finger as a strict syringe: drip and
devil my darling can you hear me

and in these locks you can hear nothing
only stillness sanitized otherworldly water

feeding you from tubes drop by drop –
with each swift wave beneath your bed

the sea steals you back into the dream of
star and muzzle far from the awakening room


Uljana Wolf
translated by Christian Hawkey
German original © KOOKbooks, Berlin 2005

recovery room II

oh if only I'd never been in the recovery room
stranded deaf rocking in the white

barge tied up by other barges
yes that's the last harbour the damp

sleep-canal with black sisters standing
on the banks like judge and jury

threatening with stern finger-jabs: drips
and devils my love can you hear me

and you can hear nothing but this silence
in the sluicegates purging water that

nourishes you drop by drop from the tube -
while with swift blows under your bed

the sea steals you back into dreams of
stars and gags far from the recovery room


Uljana Wolf
translated by Tony Frazer
German original © KOOKbooks, Berlin 2005