Original Poem: Homesick

By Salli Shepherd (salshep)


Do not let them see you blink,
Mother said, so I am careful to turn
away when my eyes dry out. My grip
on the brush is clumsy. Colours speck
and dazzle, slop like foam on rocks;
the teacher dabs their brilliance
from my flaking arms. Children whisper

behind starfish hands; they go to play
in the bright, hot yard but I stay in,
as Mother told me. Below the window
there’s a tank of golden fish that circle,
circle, following their own reflections.

I dip my fingers in to scoop one up,
watch it flip and shine, cool in my palm,
and press my face deep into the water.
Membranes slide across my thirsty eyes.
I breathe, and breathe, and breathe.



Heimweh

-- FelixT : English to German


Lass sie dich nicht blinzeln sehen,
hat Mutter gesagt, also gebe ich mir Mühe, mich weg
zu drehen, wenn meine Augen austrocknen. Mein Griff
um den Pinsel ist unbeholfen. Farben beflecken
und schillern, schwappen wie Schaum auf Felsen;
der Lehrer tupft ihre Brillanz ab
von meinen abblätternden Armen. Kinder flüstern

hinter Seesternhänden; sie gehen spielen
im hellen, heißen Hof, aber ich bleib’ drinnen,
wie es mir Mutter gesagt hat. Unter dem Fenster
steht ein Aquarium voll goldener Fische, die kreisen,
kreisen, ihren eigenen Reflektionen folgend.

Ich tunke meine Finger hinein um einen hoch zu locken,
um ihn zappeln und schimmern zu sehen, kühl auf meiner Hand,
und tauche mein Gesicht tiefer in das Wasser.
Blinzhäute gleiten über meine durstigen Augen.
Ich atme, und atme, und atme.



Saudade de Casa

-- GuBCM : German to Portuguese


Não os deixe ver você piscando,
disse minha mãe, por isso me dou ao trabalho de me
distanciar quando meus olhos secam. Meu manejo
com os pincéis é desajeitado. Cores mancham
e despejam, reluzem como espuma do mar nas rochas;
o Professor limpa o seu brilho
dos meus braços nus. Crianças cochicham

atrás de braços de estrela do mar .Eles vão brincar
No ensolarado e quente jardim, mas eu fico dentro,
Como minha mãe mandou. Debaixo da janela
Há um aquário cheio de peixes dourados, que giram,
giram, seguindo seus próprios reflexos.

Eu mergulho meu dedo para atrair um para cima,
para vê-lo brilhar e se agitar, frio nas minhas mãos.
E mergulho meu rosto mais fundo n’água.
Minhas pálpebras deslizam sobre meus olhos secos.
Eu respiro, e respiro e respiro.



Homesick

-- S1mbelmyne: Portuguese to English


Don't let them see you blink,
My mother said, that's why I bother to
step out when my eyes dry. My skill
with paint-brushes is clumsy. Colours blot
and spill, shining like sea foam on rocks;
the Professor wipes its glow
from my naked arms. Children whisper

behind starfish's arms. They go to play
on the sunny warm garden, but I stay in
as my mother told me. Underneath the window
there's an aquarium full of golden fish, that swirl,
swirl, following their own reflections.

I dip my finger to bring one up,
to see it glow and stir, cold in my hands.
And I dive my face deeper on the water.
My eyelids slide over my dry eyes.
I breathe, and breathe and breathe.



Homesick

-- Bersaglio : English to Italian


Non lasciargli vederti sbattere le palpebre
Melo diceva mia madre, ecco perchè
Mi da fastidio uscire quando i miei occhi sono asciutti
La mia abilità con i pennelli è maldestra. I colouri
si asciugano e si versano, splendendo come la schiuma sulle roccie;
il Professore melo cancelle il bagliore
Dalle braccie nude. I bambini sussurrano

Dietro le braccie della stella di mare. Vanno a giocare
Nel giardino sollegiato e caldo, ma sto qui io, come la mamma
mi ha detto. Sotto la finestra, c'è un'acquario
pieno dei pesci dorati, che rincorrono, sempre,
Rincorrono, seguendo le proprie riflessi

Immergo il mio dito, per tirare su uno
E vederlo splendere e muoversi, freddo in
Le mie mani, e io immergo la mia faccia nell'acqua
Le mie palpebre scivolano sui miei occhi asciutti
io respiro, e respiro, e respiro


Homesick

-- iThemba Italian to German


Lass sie nicht sehen, wie du blinzelst
So sagte meine Mutter, sieh, warum
Es mir unangenehm ist auszugehen wenn meine Augen trocken sind
Ich habe kein Geschick mit Pinseln. Die Farben
Trocknen aus und verschütten sich, glänzend wie Gischt auf den Felsen;
Der Lehrer streicht mir den Schimmer weg
Von den nackten Armen. Die Kinder flüstern

Hinter den Armen des Seesterns. Sie gehen zum Spielen
In den sonnigen und warmen Garten, aber ich bleibe hier, wie Mama
Es mir gesagt hat. Unter dem Fenster ist ein Aquarium
Voller goldener Fische, die umherjagen, ständig,
Sie jagen umher, ihren eigenen Spiegelbildern hinterher.

Ich tauche meinen Finger hinein, um einen hoch zu ziehen
Und zu sehen wie er glänzt und sich bewegt, kalt in
Meinen Händen, und ich tauche mein Gesicht ins Wasser
Meine Lider gleiten über meine trockenen Augen
Ich atme, und atme, und atme



Homesick

-- endless-one German to Spanish


No la dejes verte llorar
Mi madre lo dijé, vea como es fatal para mi
acabar cuando mis ojos son secos.
Yo soy inhabil con pinceles. Colores
secan y derramanse, brillando como cresta de espuma en una roca;
el profesor me quita el fulgor
de mis brazos nudos. Los hijos susurran.

Atras de los brazos de la estrella de mar. Van a jugar
en el jardin soleado y calentado, pero me queda aqui, como Mama
me lo ha dijo. Abajo de la fenestra hay un acuario pleno de
pescados dorados cazando todo el tiempo.
Cazan sus propios reflejos.

Buceo mi dedos en la aqua para subir uno
y para admirar su brillantez y sus mociones, frio
en mi manes y buceo mi cara en la agua
Mis parpados planean sobre mis ojos secos
Respiro, y respiro, y respiro



Homesick

--  opiumsmoker: Spanish to Latin


Ne linque, questus tuo animadvertant
mea mater dixit, ideo est ego vexo exitus
cum meus oculi siccantur
inhabilis penicullo sum, colores
sicci, micant sicut spumam in petram,
fulgor nudi manorum meus magister adimitur
liberi susurrant

A tergo manorum stellarum maris.
ludent fulgens et calidus horto,
autem manebo huc, sicut mea mater dixit.
sub-fenestra aquarium est,
aurati pisces semper verantur,
simulacros ipsorum verantur.

Meus digitus in aquam, unum elevando, summergo
et sui nitor et sui motio aspicio,
meus siccus oculi,
frigus in meas manus,
et mea facies in aquam summergo
meas palpebras super meus oculi fluitant,
spiro, atque spiro, atque spiro



HomeSick

NLY: Latin to English


Do not let them see you complain,
My mother said, that's why I take the agitation
Of exiting when my eyes dry.
I am awkward with paintbrushes, colors
Wipe dry, glittering just as froth on rocks,
From my naked hands the teacher takes this glow
Children whisper

From behind the arms of a starfish.
They play in the sunny and warm garden,
But I stay here, just as my mother said.
Beneath a window is an aquarium,
Goldfish always whirling,
Miming their own reflections and whirling.

I sink a finger in the water, raise one up,
Watch it shimmer and stir,
My dry eyes,
It's cold in my hands,
And submerge my face in the water
My eyelids over my eyes flow
I breathe, and breathe, and breathe



Homesick

-- ordie : English to Portuguese


Não deixes que eles te vejam queixar,
Mandou a minha mãe, é por isso que eu tomo a agitação
De sair quando os meus olhos secam.
Eu sou um trapalhão com pincéis, cores,
Limpo até secar, e brilhar tal como espuma em rochas,
O professor toma este brilho das minhas mãos nuas
Crianças sussurram

Por detrás dos braços de uma estrela-do-mar.
Eles brincam no jardim quente e solarengo,
Mas eu fico aqui, tal como a minha mãe mandou.
Sob a janela há um aquário,
Peixes-dourados sempre a rodopiar,
Imitando os seus próprios reflexos e rodopiando.

Enterro um dedo na água, ergo outro,
Contemplo-o enquanto brilha e treme,
Os meus olhos secos,
Está frio nas minhas mãos,
E afundo a cara na água
As minhas pálpebras fluem sobre os meus olhos
Respiro, e respiro, e respiro.



S'ennuyer de la Famille

-- batousaijin : Portuguese to French


Ne les permette pas de te voir pleurer,
Ma mère m’a dit, c’est pour ça que j’amortis l’inquiétude
De sortir quand mes yeux desséchent.
Je suis un bouffon avec des pattes, des couleurs,
Propres jusqu’à dessécher, et briller comme l’écume sur les roches,
Le professeur enlève ce clair des mains nus,
Et les enfants sussurrent

À derrière des bras d’étoile de mer.
Ils jouent dans le jardin chaud et ensoleillé,
Mais je reste ici, comme ma mère m’a dit.
Au dessous de la fenêtre il y a un aquarium,
Des poissons dorés font toujours des têtes-à-queues,
Ils imitent ses propres reflets et continuent des têtes-à-queues.

J’enselevis un doigt dans l’eau, aussi un autre,
Je le refléchis pendant qu’il brille et tremble,
Mes yeux secs,
Il fait froid dans les mains,
Et j’immerge la figure dans l’eau
Et les paupières coulent sur les yeux
Et je respire, et je respire, et je respire.



Bored of the Family

-- DuilleogUaigneach : French to English


Don't let them see you cry,
My mother told me, it's for this I deaden the concern,
To leave when my eyes are drying,
I am a fool with legs, colours,
Clean until drying, and shining like scum on the rocks.
The teacher removes this light from bare hands.
And the children are whispering

Behind the arms of a starfish.
They play in the hot and sunny garden.
But I stay here, like my mother told me.
Beneath the window there is an aquarium,
Some golden fish are always swimming around.
They imitate their own reflections and continue to swim around.

I dipped a finger in the water, also another,
I reflect it while it shines and trembles,
My eyes dry,
It was cold in my hands.
And I immerse my face in the water,
And my eyelids leak on my eyes.
And I breathe, and I breathe, and I breathe



Homesick

-- Maly-Jo : English to Spanish


No dejes que te vean llorar,
Me dijo mi madre, por eso muero de la preocupación
De irme cuando mis ojos se están secando.
Soy una tonta con piernas, brillante como la superficie de las rocas.
El maestro remueve esta luz de mis manos vacías,
Y los niños están susurrando.

Tras los brazos de una estrella de mar
Juegan en el caluroso y soleado jardín,
Mas me quedo aquí, como me dijo mi madre.
Bajo la ventana hay un acuario,
Algunos peces dorados nadan siempre alrededor,
Imitan sus propios reflejos y continuan nadando alrededor.

Meto un dedo en el agua, también otro.
Se reflejan mientras brillan y tiemblan.
Mis ojos se secan,
Sumerjo mi rostro en el agua
Y mis párpados gotean en mis ojos,
Y respiro, y respiro, y respiro.



Homesick

-- AngelofGod87 : Spanish to English


Do not let them see you cry
My mother told me, that is why I die of worry
Leaving when my eyes are drying
I am a fool with legs, bright as the surface of rocks.
The teacher takes this light from my empty hands,
Children whisper.

Behind a starfish's arms
Play in the warm and sunny garden,
Yet I stay here, like my mother said.
Under the window is an aquarium,
Goldfish swim round and round,
Imitating their own reflextions, they swim around.

I put a finger in the water, then another
They reflect while they shimer and tremble.
My eyes dry.
I submerge my body in the water
My eyelashes drip into my eyes,
I breathe, I breathe, I breathe.



Heimwee

-- Ronjana : English to Dutch


Laat ze nooit je tranen zien.
Zo zei mijn moeder, daarom ben ik zo bezorgd.
Weglopen tijdens het drogen van mijn ogen,
ik ben een dwaas met benen,
lichtgevend, net als de oppervlakte van een rots.
De leraar neemt het licht uit mijn lege handen,
kinderen fluisteren.

Achter de armen van een zeester
spelen ze in de warme en zonnige tuin.
Maar ik blijf hier, zoals mijn moeder zei.
Onder het raam staat een aquarium.
Goudvissen zwemmen heen en weer.
Hun eigen weerspiegeling volgend,
zo zwemmen ze rond.

Met een vinger raak ik het water, dan nog een.
Ze reflecteren, fonkelend en in beweging.
Mijn ogen drogen.
Het water overspoelt mijn lichaam
mijn oogleden smelten samen met mijn ogen
ik adem, en adem, en adem.



NOSTALGIQUE

-- Hongske : Dutch to French


Ne les jamais montre tes larmes.
Ma mère m'a dit, c'est pour cette raison que je suis inquieté.
Partir quand je séchage mes yeux,
je suis un fou avec des jambes,
lumineux comme la superficie d'un rocher.
Le prof prends la lumière de mes mains vides,
et les enfants chuchotent.

Derrière les bras d'une étoile,
ils jouent dans le jardin chaud et ensoleillé.
Mais je reste ici, comme ma mère m'a dit.
Il y a un aquarium en dessous de la fenêtre.
Des poissons rouges nagent et retournent.
Quand ils nagent,
ils suivent leurs propre réflexion.

Je touche l'eau avec un doigt, et puis encore un.
Ils reflètent, scintillants et émouvants.
Mes yeux sèchent.
L'eau submerge mon corps,
mes paupières fusionne avec mes yeux.
Je respire, et respire, et respire.



HOMESICK

-- RagingGryphon : French to English


"Never show them your tears."
My mother told me, "This is why I'm worried."
Leaving while I dry my eyes,
I am a fool with legs,
Bright like the surface of a rock.
The teacher takes that light from my empty hands,
and the other children giggle.

Behind the arms of a star
They play in a garden, sunny and warm.
But I stay here, like my mother said...
There's an aquarium below the window.
Some red fish swim around and come back -
And when they swim,
They're just following their reflections.

I touch the water with a finger, and then another.
They're reflected there, glittering and never still.
My eyes are drying.
The water covers my body,
My eyelids close over my eyes.
I breathe, and breathe, and breathe.



Homesick

-- AyumiFey : English to Polish


'Nigdy nie pokazuj im swoich łez'.
Moja mama powiedziała mi 'Właśnie dlatego jestem zaniepokojona'.
Odchodząc ocierając łzy,
Jestem głupcem z nogami,
Jasnym jak powierzchnia skały.
Nauczyciel zabiera to światło z mych pustych rąk,
A inne dzieci się śmieją.

Za ramionami gwiazd
Bawią się w ogrodzie, słonecznym i ciepłym.
Lecz ja zostaje tu, tak jak moja mam powiedziała.
Tam pod oknem stoi akwarium.
Czerwone ryby pływają wokół i powracają -
A kiedy płyną,
Jedynie podążają za własnymi odbiciami.

Palcem dotykam wody, potem drugim.
Odbijają się, błyszczą, nie pozostają nieruchomo.
Moje oczy wysychają.
Woda pokrywa moje ciało,
Moje powieki zamykają moje oczy.
Oddycham i oddycham, i oddycham.



Homesick

-- hopelesswriter : Polish to English


‘Do not ever show them your tears’.
My mother told me “That’s why I’m worried”.
Walking away wiping away the tears,
I’m a fool with the legs,
Bright as the stony surface.
The teacher reap this light from my empty hands,
And other kids are jaughing.

Behand arms of the stars
They play in the garden, sunny and warm.
But I’m staying here, as my mother said.
There below the window an aquarium is.
The fish swimming round and back -
And as they swim,
They only follow their own reflections.

I touch the water with my finger, and the second one, too.
They bounc back, shine, won’t stay still.
My eyes are drying out.
Water covers my body,
The eyelids close my eyes.
I’m breathing and breathing and breathing.



Heimweh

-- malicedomestic : English to German


‘Weine niemals vor ihnen’,
hatte meine Mutter gesagt. ‘Deswegen sorge ich mich.’
  Während ich weg gehe und die Risse abwische,
bin ich mit den Beinen dumm,
            mit den Beinen,
hell wie der Mantel des Steines.

Von meinen leeren Händen
ergreift der Lehrer den Licht,
   und die anderen Kinder lacheln.

Hinter den Armen der Sterne
   spielen sie im Garten, sonnig und warm.
      Aber hier bleibe ich, wie meine Mutter gesagt hatte.
Unter dem Fenster schwimmen die Fische, hinter Glas,
               hin und her.
Sie folgenden nur ihre eigene Gesichte.

Mit meinem Finger fühle ich das Wasser.
   Jetzt mit einem anderen auch.
      Sie springen im Wasser, stehen nicht.
Meine Augen trocknen.
Wasser fließt über meinen Körper.
Die Augenlider schließen meine Augen.

      Ich atme.
      Ich atme.
      Ich atme.



Hjemve

-- chakrabird : German to Danish


”Græd aldrig foran dem”
sagde min mor. ”Det bekymrer mig.”
Mens jeg går min vej og tørrer flængen af,
opfører mine ben sig dumt,
mine ben, lysende som stenens overflade.
Fra mine tomme hænder
tager læreren lyset,
og de andre børn ler.

Bag stjernernes arme
leger de i haven, solrig og varm.
Men jeg bliver her, det har min mor sagt.
Under vinduet svømmer fiskene, bag glas,
frem og tilbage.
De følger bare deres egen historie.

Med en finger føler jeg vandet.
Nu med en finger mere.
De springer rundt i vandet, står ikke stille.
Mine øjne tørrer.
Vand flyder over min krop.
Øjenlågene lukker mine øjne.
Jeg ånder.
Jeg ånder.
Jeg ånder.



Homesick

-- rober2 : Danish to English


"Do not cry in front of them,"
my mother said. "It worries me."
While I walk away and wipe the tear clean,
my legs act stupid,
my legs, glowing like the surface of the stones.
From my empty hands
the teacher takes the cadle,
and the other children laugh.

Behind the arms of the stars
they play in the garden, sunny and warm.
But I stay here, as my mother told me.
Beneath the window swim the fishes, behind glass,
back and forth.
They merely follow their own story.

I feel the water with a finger.
Now a finger more.
They jump about the water, do not stand still.
My eyes turn dry.
Water submerges my body.
The eyelids close my eyes.
I breathe.
I breathe.
I breathe.



Heimwee

-- tigress-phan : English to Dutch


“huil niet in hun bijzijn,”
zei mijn moeder. “het maakt me verdrietig.”
Als ik wegloop en de traan wegveeg,
Mijn benen gedragen zich raar,
Mijn benen, glimmend als een stenen oppervlak.
Uit mijn lege handen
Neemt de leraar de kaars,
En de andere kinderen lachen.

Achter de armen van de sterren
Spelen zij in de tuin, zonnig en warm.
Maar ik blijf hier, zoals mijn moeder me zei.
Onder het raam zwemmen de vissen, achter het glas,
Heen en weer.
Zij volgen slechts hun eigen weg.

Ik raak het water met een vinger.
Nu met een tweede.
Ze springen in het water, staan niet stil.
Mijn ogen worden droog.
Water verzwelgt mijn lichaam.
De oogleden sluiten mijn ogen.
Ik adem.
Ik adem.
Ik adem.



Homesick

-- Ailoura-aithe : Dutch to English


"Don't cry in their presence,"
Mother told me. "It makes me sad."
As I walk away and wipe away my tear,
My legs behave strangely,
My legs, glistening like a stony surface.
From my empty hands
The teacher takes the candle,
And the other children laugh.

Behind the stars' arms
They play in the garden, sunny and warm.
But I stay here, as my mother told me to.
Fish swim under the window, behind the glass,
To and fro.
They follow only their own path.

I touch the water with a finger.
Again with a second.
They startle in the water, won't stay still.
My eyes dry up.
Water devours my body.
My eyelids close.
I breathe.
I breathe.
I breathe.



Homesick

-- ancient-seeker : English to French


"Ne pleure pas en leur présence,"
Ma mère m’a dit. "Ça me rend triste."
En m’éloignant, essuyant une larme,
Mes jambes ont un comportement étrange,
Mes jambes, scintillantes comme une surface pierreuse.
De mes mains vides
Le professeur prend la bougie,
Et les autres enfants rient.  

Derrière les bras des étoiles
Ils jouent dans le jardin, ensoleillé et chaud.
Mais je reste ici, comme ma mère m’a dit.
Des poissons nagent sous la fenêtre, derrière le verre,
De long en large.
Ils ne suivent que leur propre chemin.

Je touche l’eau d’un doigt.
Encore une fois d’un deuxième.
Ils sursautent dans l’eau, refusant de se tenir tranquilles.
Mes yeux se dessèchent.
L’eau dévore mon corps.
Mes paupières se ferment.
Je respire.
Je respire.
Je respire.



Homesick

-- lady-shirakawa : French to English


“Rain not in his presence”
My mother said to me “It makes me sad.”
In distancing me, wiping a tear,
My legs have a foreign behaviour,
My legs glitter like a stony surface.
Of my empty hands
The teacher takes the candle,
And the other children laugh.

Behind the arms of stars
They play in the garden, sunny and hot.
But I rest here, like my mother said to me.
The fish swim under the window, behind the glass,
From down in.
They do not follow their own path.

I touch the water of a finger.
Again, once a second.
They jump in the water, refuse to keep quiet.
Me eyes dry.
The water devours the bodies.
My eyelids close.
I breathe.
I breathe.
I breathe.