I imagine somewhere
A haven like suspended gardens
At least there are some trees
A banyan shrine with vaults and pillars
And one flamboyant tree in flower
Parading like a buoyant peacock
In shining shades of summer scarlet
Along a maze of gravel alleys flourish
The geraniums exhaling their frankincense
Among a choir of birds with wings of cherubs
Sparrows and fodies and paradise-flycatchers
In tune with joy begin to sing a marvel gospel
A lazy dog’s waiting for the lizard’s locomotion
Used to eternity, they deny the deadlines’ duty
One, disguised Anubis, the other, secret Atum
Both as better buddies love the strolls that stall
Even Goethe’s Lotte didn’t enjoy this bliss
But, however hidden happy hills can be,
Fateful footsteps will invade evasive valleys
Leaving any Werther out of Wahlheim village
But here they are, unwelcome uninvited guests
They seem to walk to even slower patience yet
Than ambling friends or godly totems
Their pace alas is solemn like the speed of sorrow
Some of them may wear their inner colours
Others dress as reptiles changing scales
They come and wave goodbye before a greeting hello
And talk to me as if a ghost the same as me
Could be observed alive beyond a cross
It’s true in fact it didn’t occur to me
How the chamaeleon lies at a loss
If obliged to choose my tints
As a camouflage tone
Whatever hue and substance does a spirit have?
My human friends should write Egyptian codes
And learn to carve their hearts in stones
Having lost my head and hands
I will not attempt to answer though
What now, vestiges’ visitors?
Bury those begonia bunches here
That’s what you keep returning for, don’t you?
Rest assured my dear
I will flaunt your flowers like the flag of beauty
To come and bygone
Forgive the callous rambling
And pray with zealous pity
That I may rest in peace
In lovers’ secret garden