Pan's Pub - Tibor Babiczky

Everything must be paid for, I reflected,

as we sat beneath

an impossibly yellow sunshade,

not waiting for anything in particular,

we just sat, it was a pleasant and enjoyable

late afternoon, aside from the fact that

everything must be paid for, and it occurred to me

that time had its motion 

and light was immobile

in its fullness, even if it was broken,

empty glasses were topped up,

rugs were brought when the sun set. 

It's reassuring to know 

the cost of each item,

given that everything must be paid for,

the wine just as much as the sunset,

under the impossibly yellow sunshade

everything is put on the slate.

And if this peace does not please,

well, you are free not to leave a tip.

---

Tibor Babiczky (born 1980) Hungary

Translated by Peter Sherwood

Source: Versopolis