if i stand quoting shadows
all the things i could have done
dismissed beneath this red leaf's
brilliant death
winter breath and stone harmonies
send out subtle:
come and predict the weather, like
we tore the tissue and read it
under the lens
too late to save her
if only i had that one machine
that turns everything back
and if only i had the map
my bleeding palm describes
and if only i could smell
disease like a rat
(but, instead,
how the house smells
like her dresses
and her sighs
how my body
is the map
of her body
the curve of our foot
just so)
this season i stand with palms splayed
forcing encroaching walls apart
the wizard behind a curtain
of regret
3 comments:
woah. did you write that?
When suddenly at midnight you hear
an invisible procession going by
with exquisite music, voices,
don't mourn your luck that's failing now,
work gone wrong, you plans
all proving deceptive- don't mourn them uselessly;
as one long prepared and full of courage,\
say goodbye to her, the Alexandria that is leaving.
Above all, don't fool yourself, don't say
it was a dream, your ears deceived you:
don't degrade yourself with empty hopes like these.
As one long prepared, and full of courage,
as is right for you who were given this kind of city,
go firmly to the window
and listen with deep emotion,
but not with the whining, the pleas of the coward;
listen- your final pleasure - to the voices,
to the exquisite music of that strange procession,
and say goodbye to her, to the Alexandria you are losing.
C. P.Cavafy, "The Gods Abandon Antony"
i really enjoyed your verses. very moving.
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