flowers just don’t grow anymore
in the ghetto
empty houses empty of people
wind keening in the street
for those who have departed
flower children the weeds left behind
broken windows apologetic on walls
like blind-eyed old folks
sockets empty and not knowing
when the axe will fall
flowers just don’t grow any more
in the ghetto
houses torn down and brick a’ showing
flesh ripped away revealing the bone
waiting for the demolition man
to wipe away their shame
street sparrows pipe as they flutter
in the graveyards left behind
voices raised in shrill protest
their nest opened to the wind
flower children stand around like scarecrows
voices reed-rustle as they moan
their pain of looking
at places lost of people
flowers just don’t grow anymore
in the ghetto
Published August 14, 2023
© James Matthews
Blumen
Written in English by James Matthews
Translated into German by Zineb Benkhelifa, Ueli Dubs, Elisa Fuchs, Danái Hämmerli, Al Imfeld, Lotta Suter, Andreas Zimmermann
Blumen wachsen einfach nicht mehr
im Ghetto
leere Häuser leer von Menschen
der Wind heult in den Strassen
für die die weggezogen sind
Blumenkinder die das Unkraut zurückgelassen hat
eingeschlagene Scheiben entschuldigend an den Wänden
wie blinde alte Leute
mit leeren Augenhöhlen die nicht wissen
wann die Axt fallen wird
Blumen wachsen einfach nicht mehr
im Ghetto
die Häuser abgerissen und die Backsteine blossgelegt
Fleisch weggezerrt gibt die Knochen frei
Sie warten auf den Abbrucharbeiter
der ihre Scham wegwischt
Strassenspatzen pfeifen während sie
in den verlassenen Friedhöfen flattern
ihre Stimmen erhoben in schrillem Protest
ihre Nester dem Wind ausgesetzt
Blumenkinder stehen da wie Vogelscheuchen
Stimmen rascheln wie Schilf wenn sie wehklagen
vor Schmerz beim Blick
auf menschenleere Plätze
Blumen wachsen einfach nicht mehr
Im Ghetto
Published August 14, 2023
Afrika im Gedicht, hg. Al Imfeld, Zürich
© Offizin Verlag GmbH 2015
Note on the German translations:
Translations from Arabic are by Zineb Benkhelifa
Translations from Portuguese are by Elisa Fuchs
All other translations are by Zineb Benkhelifa, Ueli Dubs, Elisa Fuchs, Danái Hämmerli, Al Imfeld, Lotta Suter, Andreas Zimmermann. Revision and partial translation of Ama Ata Aidoo’s poem by Katja Meintel; other revisions by the “litafrika” team (Christa Baumberger and Nicole Schmid).
flores já não crescem mais
no gueto
casas vazias vazias de gente
vento soprando na rua
para aqueles que partiram
crianças em flor que o mato deixou pra trás
janelas quebradas com desculpas nas paredes
que nem velhos de olhos cegos
órbitas vazias sem saberem
quando o machado vai cair
as flores já não crescem mais
no gueto
casas tombadas com tijolo exposto
carne arrancada revelando o osso
esperando a demolidora
pra limpar sua vergonha
pardais de rua trinam e esvoaçam
nos cemitérios deixados pra trás
vozes crescem um protesto estridente
seu ninho escancarado ao vento
crianças em flor no entorno como espantalhos
vozes que farfalhando gemem
sua dor de olhar
lugares sem pessoas
flores já não crescem mais
no gueto
Published August 14, 2023
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