My Grandson Amon Poem by Denis Mair

Who swam hither across unimaginable gulfs
To prove the fertile power of the abyss
And ease my fear of ends and beginnings?
What conception shaped this dolphin torso
What intention gave proportion to his limbs
And traced the delicate folds of flesh?
His only language is love; he is all about love
From a deep well of love he entered our circle
He fusses at night, only to resume embraces
To complete the circuit of milk and hunger
By day he signals the connection we've made
With the smile that blossoms on his face
A big, hearty smile...hinting at secrets
Looking forward to how we'll amuse him
Giving assurance he will coo for us again
His smile is never a cheesy display
But the raffish grin of a little man
It plants a seed in my heart's nest
So warmth remains when I go outside
I was a crusty, curmudgeonly man
Hard-bitten and obsessed with words
Even when they rang hollow in my mind
Who swam to me across such gulfs?
Still only a tentative sprout of life
Yet prepared for so carefully
With roots planted so tenaciously
He barges through my heart's door
To say that life wants to renew itself
And is willing to be at home with me

..........


Thanks to Mr. Wang Hao for the following Chinese translation of this poem:

"孙儿阿蒙"

是谁跨过不可思议的鸿沟游来这里
来证明这深渊强大的孕育力
并驱散我对结尾和开端的恐惧？
是什么样的构想塑造出这海豚般的躯体
是什么样的意念给了他匀称的四肢
并勾勒出肉体纤巧的皱褶？
他唯一的语言是爱，他眼里只有爱
他从爱的深井里来到我们中间
夜里他有些烦躁，只是为了被再次拥入怀抱
完成从饥饿到吮乳的循环
白天他在脸上绽出微笑
一个既大方又开心的微笑——暗示着秘密
宣示我们之间牵起的亲缘
等待着我们给他逗乐
保证会再给我们咿咿呀呀的回应
他的笑容从不是肉麻的表演
而是一个小大人不羁的咧嘴一笑
它在我的心巢里播下一颗种子
于是出门的时候我怀里依旧揣着温暖
我曾是一个脾气暴躁的怪老头
顽固不化，执着于言词
即使它们在我的头脑中显得空泛
是谁跨过这么大的鸿沟游到我身边？
还只是生命初发的嫩苗
却是经过了如此精心的筹备
已经扎下如此顽强的根
他缓缓驶来，已经闯入我的心门
说明生命要更新自身
并愿意自在地与我呆在家中

王浩译