Musings

After writing Part 1 and Part 2 of "My God, My Tourniquet," I came across a poem I wrote a few months back and thought it was a nice summary of the two articles. Enjoy....

Legal Interpreter
©2011 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Changing one language, English, into another’s source language, sign language,
back and forth: faithfully, accurately, to the best of the interpreter’s ability.
Interpreting requires tremendous equanimity,
not entertaining one’s innate, internal filter
but rather translating precisely
while leaving judgment to someone else.

Today’s offense was domestic violence—a baby and toddler were involved.
Signs that one should never see, shot off hands
as  interpreter analyzed the many layers of language:
lexical, phrasal, sentential, and discourse.

Interpreter’s mind worked overtime,
while inside the apparent translating machine,
unbeknownst to those who watched,
she experienced a liberating call:
her long-ago-silenced-inner-voice spoke one arresting word—“suffering.”
Heart, typically not invited to court proceedings,
opened to receive the news.
Communication steadily flowed
as mind and heart engaged,

beyond limits of language, another Source bore witness---infinite compassion.
Court room interpreter was,
for the first time in her translation,
entirely free.