Arguments with destiny: 24

“…and each of your kisses lasted a day
and the time between two kisses
lasted a night.”

“…y cada beso tuyo
era un día;
y el tiempo que mediaba entre dos besos
una noche.”

from “Historia de mi muerte” / “Story of My Death”
by Leopoldo Lugones, trans. D. Bonta

What to pawn for a sweet,
a leftover gem, paper slipped
into folded circles of bread
as you move from one
darkness to the next?

*

What to feed to the dog
that guards the gates, the one
who angles hot, greedy breath;
ready paws prepared to seize
your face in its fangs?

*

What to feel in the interval
of flame after the phoenix
dissolves in a shroud of ash,
before feathers return
to adorn its breast?

 

In response to Via Negativa: Historia de mi muerte....

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