Change of light (II) Poem by Sepp Mall

In the heart's glimmering ventricle / the year
ends
in waves the night breaks in
over the things / that
you have been entrusted with

We fetched some bread / watched
the parents as
they were dying / swatted
the flies away

Explanations were useless
the trembling remained
the twitching of the world
: like the wing beat of shrivelling
birds
(all) afternoon long
the following day

Translation by Brigitte Scott