THE TRAVELER Poem by Eduardo Gómez

After numerous trips he returned to the house naked
his hands picked up a broken moon in the dust.

He appeared on the road riding a giraffe,
talking about everyday things.

They asked him about the seven wonders
and he gave an after-dinner speech.

They asked about the New York skyscrapers
and he told of a fight of blacks armed with white teeth.

They asked about the taxis in Paris
and he talked about a quaint beggar having breakfast in Montmartre.

He exhibited himself naked but wore thick glasses
and expensive rings armored his fingers.

They asked him to sing
and he talked about trains running over the night.

They asked him to dance
And he talked about the painful stillness of pariahs.

He exhibited himself naked but kept a hundred worn-out suits:
among decoration and medals
a dented mirror
among cosmetics and epaulettes
a perfumed small book
among old-fashioned furniture
a coffin-bed
among knives and revolvers
small lace handkerchiefs.

A thousand far-away cities burned in his eyes.