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{ 2010 01 06 }

Vasko Popa, “Before the Game”

BEFORE THE GAME

Shut one eye then the other
Peek into every corner of yourself
See that there are no nails no thieves
See that there are cuckoo’s eggs

Shut then the other eye
Squat and jump
Jump jump high high
On top of yourself

Fall then with all your weight
Fall for days on end deep deep deep
To the bottom of your abyss
Who doesn’t break into pieces
Who remains whole who gets up whole
Plays

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Vasko Popa, translated by Charles Simic. From Homage to the Lame Wolf: Selected Poems, Oberlin College Press; Revised and Expanded Ed edition (December 1987).

Posted by anyman on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at 12:05 pm. Filed under Parables, pith... picks, poetry, prose poetry, thought fodder. Tagged , , . Follow any responses to this post with its comments RSS feed. You can post a comment or trackback from your blog.

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