Two Women
Please – please come in.
Easy smile, pregnant with meanings
– masks on the back wall –
this is an open house, my heart is open
see all the flowers on the table
– the phone is ringing, just unplug it –
spacious and pleasant, here we can sit in peace
beside the children playing on the floor
take off your armour, life's paraphernalia
– the chaos of the city lies outside the fence –
here there is space, ease, refreshments on the table
and we can be open with each other, entrust ourselves to words
your life, my life in bright colours
against an ashen backdrop,
specks of black and crimson brushed off our clothes
a fragrant mist enveloping the stage
as coloured sparks circle, glittering words,
reflections, are displayed on the table between the cups, car keys
the good intentions that have come to nothing
– the chaos of the city lies outside the fence –
plans to chase up
an hour, a day, the essence of life
squeezed for an instant…
Ah, this charade
has been going on far too long
whenever two women talk.
Translated by Carole Satyamurti
Page(s) 18-19
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