Ilya Kaminsky

1977 / Odessa

from Deaf Republic: 9

I am not a poet, Sonya I inspect
the fragrant feet of younger ladies—

While deafness hums as a little motor
I watch her stand in the shower

holding her breasts
in her hands like two small explosions.

I am her boy drowning.
In this country he does not know

the word for "drowning" and yells:
"I am diving for the last time!"
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