Lamed

by Vladimir Druk
translated by Lev Fridman

     from the book “Alef–Bet. Forms, Numbers and Nominations”

the bad student in the back row
cranes his neck trying to make out the writing on the blackboard

our teacher has bad handwriting
everything He writes is indecipherable
everything He says is drowned out by the noise
of the morning news

the news greets you in your bathrobe
defenseless
you are looking for your glasses
to be able to see the unexplainable

the radio strings letters into words
the din builds

embrace me
put your hand on my heart
I will be Your antenna

tuned to the waves of war
the wind died down and the night brightened up

a ladder leaning against the sky
teach me how to use it

they say that in a world of flying towers
it is easy to reach up and touch the stars

but at a good school the overachievers are not well liked