Ulla Hahn
Muse Asleep
None of these books now being printed
will she ever be able to read
nor will she ever know again
the consolation of the trees
not even the tips of the buds nor
that lovely moment without pain
They’ve hardened all to stone
to lie one over the other on her breast
and her bit of life is more and more
this heavy harshness these hard core
obscenities of force and degradation.
If only there weren’t so much
about her still honey and golden the thin peaked face
under a kerchief the face of a little muse
Why
is she being pulled out of life like this
a bad apple from the middle of the crate? My hate’s
an ill-fitting wedding ring without a finger
Morning All night I’ve been with her
by her high bed
She liked so much to play
new games new luck pokering
with herself with others the way she wanted
by her own rules Everything goes and now
everything’s going the way life wants and
life’s own rules are law rejecting everything
certain absolutely everything Never again
a chance to choose this thing or another
not now nor soon
not even between coffee or tea The morning
staff arrives She’s sleeping I’ll be able
to leave I can go I can
even walk on water as long as the ice holds
or stay here in the room already warming
in the February sun.
Translated by Oliver Grannis
Page(s) 109
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