Spring Tide

THE FOUR CRADLES

The cradle IDYLL
rock blue rock silver
pulls down stars
for the sleeping child
the cradle IDYLL
imitates moonlight
in the darkest nights
in the cradle IDYLL
the quilt’s a cloud
and the pillow the whitest wing
the fluffy sheet
is printed with gentle hymns
in the cradle IDYLL
the child is wrapped in cottonwool
shielded from the world
the rattle made of flowers
spreads soothing scents
the cradle IDYLL
rock blue rock silver
rocks blessed dreams
into the frailest flickering sleep
who dares wake the little one?

The cradle CONFORMISM
swings in blue and warning orange
never a passion
never a desire
always casualness
straight social lines
in the cradle CONFORMISM
lies a child
who will fall asleep
to the striped signals of warning signs
the cradle CONFORMISM
is stuffed with brown envelopes
papers with endless rows of numbers
in the cradle CONFORMISM
the child keeps twitching like an animal
at last rests
dozes a moment
but then moans and whimpers again
who will listen to one
that calls in the dark?

The cradle FULL MOBILISATION
never keeps still
the cradle FULL MOBILISATION
is produced at the cavalry school of arms
with rockers of steel
the cradle FULL MOBILISATION
can march on the spot
one two – one two
till night becomes child
wrapped in green uniform
and the cradle’s made
of leaves and branches
and the child will sleep
in a nest of leaves and mud
one two – one two
in the cradle FULL MOBILISATION
the child carries a little gun
one two – one two
the cradle FULL MOBILISATION
marches camouflaged
one two – one two
at night the child is beaten
because it won’t sleep
at night the child won’t sleep
because it’s frightened
one two – one two
who will conform a panicking child?

The cradle FINAL SOLUTION
clatters on the planks
of the bare floor
in the cold nursery
the cradle FINAL SOLUTION
is a little black casket
on creaking rockers
the naked child
in the cradle FINAL SOLUTION
rolls from side to side
bumps against the rough boards
with a dull sound that calls to mind
a soft stone
under the lid
the cradle FINAL SOLUTION
rocks to and fro
the cradle FINAL SOLUTION
rocks dead
and stands still
who said
dreamtime’s gone?
What’s
already happened?

Spring Tide(1985). Forest Books 1989, translated by Anne Born