The pleasing Nile-ish site
would be the delta's branch, a little bit hidden
(note Moses was saved from the water)
by reeds, mud, and far flamingoes.
The loricate wails; an ibis appears
and takes a pensive peck at our beast.
At this point, should I be wasting ink?
Let the fable continue; I won't expand it.
It's enough to have created a hieroglyph.
Translated from the Italian
by
Ann Snodgrass
SANDOR CsoORI
In
Filtered Shade
Who are those well-groomed beer drinkers
under the huge sun umbrella
there in the garden above Pasaret?
On their necks, thick, hammered gold necklaces,
and their hairy fingers,
like fat bumblebees,
fl utter lazily
above the glasses.
Unknown, like little Columbuses,
who have each just recently
discovered
a land swimming in haze
with banana plantations,
with green apples,
wi th ant farms,
and they already ship formic acid by the barrel
to armies secretly arming themselves.
Or they trade women for classical ruins
at bargain prices.
In the filtered shade and in the gray
cigarette smoke they are like those
who can see without eyes,
