[Just wait until your goddess Aurora] Poem by Paul Bogaert

Just wait until your goddess Aurora
starts going on about her receding gums
and you realize that you have spent a fortune
on placebos and coloured spotlights.

Just wait until you are asked to
call back
the demon of noon, who fritters away his days
in an espresso bar.

Just wait until full of understanding
at the door at dusk a Smurf comes to
fob you off with two morphine pumps.

Translation: Diane Butterman