Translation is a metaphor. Metaphor
is the movement of meaning and

essence from one vessel to the next.
I tell Mary that women aren’t vessels.

The point of sex is not to be filled or to be
emptied. Orgasm is often miscarried

by metaphor. But who carried
me, transferred the meaning and marrow

to my body? It takes more than one,
but not yet two, to make meaning.

Meaning is sense of signification. It
is nothing without a vessel to inhabit.

I tell Mary about the children I will some-
day have. The point of translation is to

be filled and emptied. My children
will do this to me some-day, I say.