over the frozen sea
walks the captain’s daughter
she who deported a thousand ships
with a single kiss
let’s call her
Sharapova
whoever calls
she’ll come along
and stay for however long
tennis, cricket, football
anything goes

don’t trust
the blue-faced doors
at the thatched harbour
any time
they can let in
whales
octopuses
camels

which shipmate kissed her
with a cleft lip
who pulled away the sailing ships
from her rusty nipples

it’s on seeing her lying on her side
wearing a red skirt
that some sailor cried
that the earth is round
Sharapova
for centuries together
has been just a ball
let her roll away
wherever!

Translated by V. C haris