the object in the china cabinet

That object in the china cabinet peers at you
monitors you each morning and each evening and each night
gazes at you when you make a wry face in the mirror
watches you as you dance alone
scrutinises the way you gulp down bread fruit lobsters cigarettes vitamins
contemplates you emerge from sleep your ruffled hair laden with goose down
stares at you when you sneeze vigorously
examines the way you scratch the inside of your nose
spies on your melancholic yawn
witnesses you die
that object in the china cabinet
that creature of cheap ceramics
that loathsome thing keeps an eye on you
 

from our kitchen

My sweetheart the metaphysical smell of vegetables
evenly fades away from our kitchen the curtain itself
searchingly witnesses the alterations in our calm shadows

the taste of wet salt lingers all around

the daylight’s fair bread is darkening
while the summer’s fish is ailing in the heaven’s well
can you hear the wooden bells on wind strings
chiming a more profound passage? the spider’s
silver trace on the ceiling leisurely wears away pray
to the angel enclosed within the quince lest he put us
asunder in the coldness of the sleep

English version by Gabriela PACHIA