The pond

My childhood is today a great pond
where I look at myself.

At its green lichen bottom,

are stones covered by moss and

fish of a rare and brilliant kind.

I dip my hands there

and stir the water

to grasp a shadow,

always elusive.

The pond returns the sky to me, the clouds,

sky and earth kiss in it…

merge.

I draw an image there, I dream it,

but I can’t reach it.

Hanni Ossott, Venezuela, 1946-2002

Translation Germain Droogenbroodt – Stanley Barkan