Dialogues After Waking and Before Sleep

Happy birthday, DawN!
The fences have already laid down their shadows…
From the flakes of green paint
a little worm put out its head
and went looking for fresh dew,
lakes on the benches.

Footsteps on the garden stones
went by.
A brief pause before the creak
of a door
and silence again.

The nightingales sniffed it out and swallowed it.
The little worm drank its fill in a hurry
and sat down on the bench, pleased
to be the first listener to Chopin
today. After me.

Happy birthday, Day!
Shall you and I read Borges today?
Or the press? Whatever you’d like best.
The difference is in the size
of the paper body. And in the colour of the covers.
For you.
And for me? What about me, Day?
It isn’t my birthday today.
You mind yourself —
you haven’t got much time as it is.
I’m telling you man to man…

I’m not mouthing off at you!
I watch you wasting your time and I find it funny
and sad for you. We’ve been friends for so long…
Excuse me?
All right then. At least I am, to you…
Do as you see fit, and let it turn out however you want…

Happy birthday, Evening!
And good evening!
Where are my cufflinks?
The square ones… Yes?
We’re not a family, that’s true…
But I can’t remember where they are.
Fine, I’ll roll up my sleeves.
And it’s not true that they’re dirty.
Only the slightest bit smudged.

That’s only a problem for you.
I’m sad about the cufflinks…

No, I won’t go out unshaven.
Let’s not start again, please!
Don’t be jealous of her, of all people.
Yes. I won’t go out with Night,
even though it’s her birthday today
and I ought at least to give her a call…

Ha… Thank you! Where did you find them?

2008