[then the heat slowly eased itself] Poem by Nico Bleutge

then the heat slowly eased itself
off the balcony and the eyes were more easily

diverted from the houses. the white
satellite dishes at the windows

already the first lights began to glow
encapsulated blue and green.

when the eyes wanted to stray between
the boardings there was a red

plastic bag in the air gleaming far above
it floated by and gradually gave the gaze

some focus until it sat softly and calmly
behind the eyelids

translated by Hans-Christian Oeser and Gabriel Rosenstock and the author