Mihai Ursachi
The History of the Great Clock and the Blind Man
A huge clockwork, in the wilderness of stones,
like an immense basilica-mosque. None
among you, travellers, has traversed that realm
known as “The Great Stone Clock.” Some say its melancholy sound
can be heard absolutely everywhere on earth,
but it’s much likelier for it never to be heard anywhere
(or, since we hear it continuously, habit makes us hear it not at all).
What seems strange to me is that the watchman, blind and poor,
always is counting something, using for this purpose
the small mummy bones of his hands. He counts in haste,
and sometimes his blind face, as parched as an old palimpsest,
appears to glow with hope and joy. Then he stares with his
empty eye sockets at the Great Clock.
Soon he is absorbed again in his wretched calculus,
and no one disturbs the great silence all around.
This, worthy travellers, is the history
of the Great Clock and the Blind Man,
Now I’ve told you, so I’ll keep still.
Translated by Adam J Sorkin, Ileana Orlich
Page(s) 188
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