Chrysogonus' Translation #74 - from Lisa Brockwell's "Cypresses"

Siprus

Kami dari utara Italia

dan hendaklah diketahui

kami berpostur menawan

dan berambut indah, jika bergigi

mereka pun bagus. Kami merayu

dalam balet dan hanya berdiri

menjaga rumah yang pantas

diperhatikan. Saat ditanam

di bawah, kami mengkerut

dan mengecil, mulai mengurus.

Kau mungkin mendengar bisik:

Jangan difoto.

We are from the north of Italy

and like to let that be known. 

We have excellent posture,

and well kept hair, if we had teeth,

they’d be good. We do our courting

at the ballet and will only stand

sentry at estates we deem worthy 

of our attention.  When transplanted 

somewhere beneath us, we fret 

and lose volume, begin to lean. 

You might hear us whisper:
No photographs, please.