[ELIS DANCES] 9 Poem by Hans Raimund

ELIS TWISTS
Twists
Around himself
Moves
His arms more finely
Knee
Whips
Dizziness
Writhes into
Knots
Curves
Screeche downward
Strung across
Elis twists
Twists
himself
On tiptoe
What was always
Fixed
Raises more finely
The arms
Everything visible
Falls away
Falls into decay
Calm
Stilled at the centre
Of movement
Elis twists
Twists
Around himself
Raises more finely
His arms
Twisting bends
The wand
Draws
Blood
Springs from
The shafts

Translated by David Chorlton