Erbarme Dich Poem by Maria Barnas

An Englishman with gorgeous eyes is tuning my piano.
I'm going to do it very carefully, he says.
Droplets and leaves are spilling from the elderberry bush
in the corner of the garden, sir, like words from my mouth.
Would you mind?
I think the tree is incurably ill.
We might have a slight problem here.
We.

A humid summer has dawned in my mind
dear sir, a paralysing heat. Do you have any suggestions?
I don't know what ‘scorching' is in English.
Would you like a drink?
Thank you so much.
How much?

In Brussels I ate chocolate made of gold foil
and I wore an impeccable hat.
In Paris I rode in a Ferris wheel.
I could go with you to London just like that.

If I have sugar. And milk.
The Englishman plays.
Erbarme dich.

That's that and that's all.
Thank you so much.

Translation: 2008, Donald Gardner