Study for a Few Quiet Squares
Come on! Even little sister knows
That some things are lies: Just think
Of your home town, the wilted fur of the meadows!
In summer the children scream at each other under water
& then, as adults, will be standing there facing
Toothbrush and toothpaste as if lost. Or the morning
Will be stuck to the swing, well why not!
A falcon is perched on the fence along the freeway.
A line is being drawn across the sky.
Hot urine on burst chestnuts!
[»Studie für ein paar leise Quadrate«]
Birds in the Beer Garden
The active type of life, fortunate
Mustard ... Here I stand, here I go: only
Two quick steps away from the
Water where the stone dogs are barking!
(Arises the question of whether
Some special event will still break
Through all the brightly colored teeth &
monogrammed lighters? I wonder.)
[»Vögel im Biergarten«]
The Ex-gunboat Captain’s Widowed Daughter-in-law is
Annoyed because of the motor scooters in the entrance. Outside a
Wind that bunches up things, the glitter of power lines
In the rain ... »Be like a lowered torch in times of
misfortune!« Where
Had she read that? Home again, she potters around a bit with
Fruit. The bell rings. Surprised, she walks to the door to see a
Man grinning with joy who tells her he has been watching her
For weeks & has felt for some time now that he should
Let her know. »We humans have to stick together,«
He says & is getting ready to embrace her. Which, understandably,
She will not have.
[»Die verwitwete Schwiegertochter des einstigen Kapitäns des Kanonenboots«]
Broken Mountain
The words wander in the amber light, in-
conspicuous but brave like the snouthog.
Then a blackout, brief wailing, almost Swedish.
A lot of December for such a small country!
Soft bells. It’s even possible to swing on time
Between ash trees! Only television seems
To be at wits’ end: There you see two toilet
Cleaners going at it like butchers gone berserk,
Slapping each other’s thighs over and over
Again, saying such funny things while
The music pretty please be a song entirely sincere,
With lyrics like: Your heart is beating too fast ...
[»Zerbrochener Berg«]
Little Winter
Wet flags. Asphalt curves. Snow-dusted
Gravel. Fur ads in the background, snow
Spat on & somebody who bit into a bag.
Was the world inside any warmer?
The Righteous Brothers of the Calcareous Alps
Were playing on tape (in the vegetable section ...)
& deep inside the skull of the dances something
Was going on – wild monies, coated sparks.
Two country buffaloes stood in front of a
Video machine immobile: A black rhythm
Diva hissed at glittering instruments &
The instruments howled back at her.
A net of oranges was pushed by.
Rather colorfully packaged babies occurred.
Did a tiny little brain shutter open up? (An old
Flower child manned the cash register &
Knew all the prices by heart.)
[»Kleiner Winter«]
| 
The translator: