English Bar Mitzvah

A paid event. Nothing
to recite, cant or toast.
Dancing not for me,
speeches not for me.
My childhood only left me
when I saw the shame

in all translation:
a moonless night,
you interpreting Rilke,
for me, German-to-
English, the English
often the direct
opposite in meaning
from the original.

I promise to stay
in Montréal
and love you,
to listen
to your nasal
German forever.
I promise, tomorrow,
moon or no moon,
my love will be
naked, lawful,
held as song
for dancing,
for angels
or otherwise.