6 Poem by Alfred Brendel

No
it wasn't the cook
and don't let's blame the gardener
still less the lady's maid
least of all Griffiths
the butler
despite his haggard look
On no account
should we consider the corgies
who have
admittedly
mutilated a number of toddlers before
As for the farm manager
a self-declared gipsy
he had joined his family for dinner
in their caravan
miles away
Finally
any personal involvement of our host
may safely be discounted
since his Lordship is equipped
with only one leg
A statue in the vegetable garden
will remind us for ever
of the sorry affair

Translation: Richard Stokes and the author