In memoriam Sinaida Nikolayevna Gnatchenko Shmailo, October 16, 1923 - October 20, 2000

For my mother

MEMENTO MAMA

I haven’t passed that dream of wisdom,
the borders you crossed through.

I can’t translate the language
I thought I thought I knew.

I see a meaning, watching you die,
hold it in my hands like a graying sigh,

this lock of hair which I comb and tie.
I kiss the head which hears my no,

and meet your eyes, and say: Don’t go,
and leave you to this tongue of dread:

This is me, it cries, this is me and I die.
We will all speak these words in this way
and then, and till then, what shall I say?

New at Writing in a Woman's Voice: Memento Mama

Memento Mama

MEMENTO MAMA

by Larissa Shmailo

I haven’t passed that dream of wisdom,
the borders you crossed through.

I can’t translate the language

I thought I thought I knew.

I see a meaning, watching you die,
hold it in my hands like a graying sigh,

this lock of hair which I comb and tie.
I kiss the head which hears my no,

and meet your eyes, and say: Don’t go.

and leave you to this tongue of dread:

This is me, it cries, this is me and I die.

We will all speak these words in this way

and then, and till then, what shall I say?

MEMENTO MAMA

I haven’t passed that dream of wisdom,
the borders you crossed through.

I can’t translate the language

I thought I thought I knew.

I see a meaning, watching you die,
hold it in my hands like a graying sigh,

this lock of hair which I comb and tie.
I kiss the head which hears my no,

and meet your eyes, and say: Don’t go.

and leave you to this tongue of dread:

This is me, it cries, this is me and I die.

We will all speak these words in this way 

and then, and till then, what shall I say?