Chrysogonus' Translation #48 - from Beatrice Machet's "A Bowl of Soup"

Semangkuk sup

Ia memegang semangkuk penuh sup

yang ia edarkan di atas meja

beberapa tetes tumpahan

menggambar jejak penyesalan di taplak

aku bisa membaca pikirannya

aku bisa membaca kata-katanya

kenapa anak ini begitu rakus?

selalu lapar?

Jawaban di lubuk hatiku tertulis:

Hanya satu kecup dari ibu akan memuaskan

dan memberi makan aku dari cinta

She held a full bowl of soup

that she handed across the table

causing a few drops to fall and 

draw the path of regret on the tablecloth…

I could read her mind

I could hear her words

Why is this child so greedy?

Always so hungry?

The answer I kept safe in my heart could be written like this:

Only one kiss from you mother would have quenched

 would have feed my need of love.