Three
Women
Around
three women went
blue-dressed were they
their bags, heavy yet scarce
they
would knock at all doors
their goal being one, consolation
and ask “what need have you?
we
can alleviate your griefs
bandages and ointments
we have caresses and words”
they
met with astonishment
grown-ups yet ageless
playing with no children
homes
furbished and affluent
of everybody the same answer –
“we enjoy health and riches”
none
would welcome their offer
the women sitting in the street
tried appealing then
a
mouth-organ and their voices a lullaby
inviting to form up company
to put the lonely the vagrants together
the
passers-by would hurry on
paint covered colours
then they climbed up a tower
grave
bells tolled
their sound vanishing around
none took heed of the women
who
said before night fell –
“the suffering of the city is gone
we’ve lost our job our mission”
far
off a comet rose
and the city grew a fake
a complex and illusive game
swept
off by a breath of wings
goats and shepherds materialized
then hunger-marked faces
cripples
and huts and workshops
the immense crib was lived in and out
was spread all over the earth
announcement
shining over a grotto
the baby has been born who will unveil
the light of truth to men.
translated by Rodolfo Longo
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