Venice masks

Wednesday, 2 March 2022

The Cup - Abdellatif Laâbi

The cup is full
And here are the ingredients:
At the bottom a bit of despair
giving life
that after-taste of bitterness
appreciated
by the true connoisseurs
One third blood
still warm
guaranteed human
cheaper than tap water
One third tears
sweet salted
having been wept
by the gentlest eyes
Two fingers of vintage
derision
kept cool
at a constant ferocity
A peel of hot pepper
lighting up the mouth
and a cloud
of black anger
All of it
sans snacks
& to drink
bottoms up
absolutely alone
imperturbable
in the face of disaster

Abdellatif Laâbi (born 1942) Morocco
Translated by Pierre Joris

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please keep your comments relevant and free from abusive language. Thank you. Note that comments are moderated so it may be a day or two before your comment is posted - irrelevant or abusive comments will not be published.