By Anna Mitchell
First, stand outside and look up. Notice.
Now you may proceed.
Part I
CAUTION! Lukewarm skies
no simmer, no rage, no scald,
when your skin
meets the soft sky skin
should it not seethe and curl and blister
exposed
or freeze into a million tiny crystals
despite the salinity (your sweat)
don’t you wonder — why?
are you not afraid?
CAUTION! No clouds
like house paint
that slashes at bare wood
like winter coats
that billow (bearded knees)
cast in the morning snow
like thoughts from a cigarette
that dissipate
Part II
Nous faisons de beaux rêves
We dream nice dreams
Or nous ne les cherchons plus
But we’ve ceased chasing them
Un jour après l’autre
One day after another
Une heure après l’autre
One hour after another
Et nous nous retirons
And we retire
à nos grottes
To our caves
en oubliant ce ciel tiède
Forgetting the lukewarm sky
en oubliant la rage
Forgetting rage
et la sérénité
and serenity
et la peinture
and that paint
et les genoux
and the knees
et les gilets
and the jackets
et la neige
and the snow
(et toi?)
(and you?)
ATTENTION! Le temps passe.
CAUTION! Time passes.
