Gathered to his ancestors

Suicide Prevention Hotline
after Lu Yu
 
One late afternoon in April David strayed into the Mississippi everglades
and was gathered to his ancestors in relative silence 

– We never knew his last name

At a nondescript December sunrise Jason took flight over the metallic limbs
of his red Kawasaki and smashed against the vandalized walls
of a Tennessee highway rest stop     

 – He couldn't hear us calling

After a long night just north of Tallahassee DC turns off the monitor
walks past the fish stands to the docks,  leans against the giant columns
and watches as the ocean's green hills hurl themselves into the twilight 

− When his phone rings he takes his sweet time answering.

Stanislaw Borokowski, Translated from the German by Chris Michalski