My Mother Once Told Me by Yehuda Amichai

My Mother Once Told Me

 

My mother once told me

Not to sleep with flowers in the room.

Since then I have not slept with flowers.

I sleep alone, without them.

 
There were many flowers,
But I’ve never had enough time.
And persons I love are already pushing themselves
Away from my life, like boats

Away from the shore.

My mother said
Not to sleep with flowers.
You won't sleep.

You won't sleep, mother of my childhood

The bannister I clung to

When they dragged me off to school
Is long since burnt.
But my hands, clinging,

Remain
Clinging.

 

(translated by Assia Gutmann)