APPOLONIUS VISITS THE HOUSES
1. House of the Harlots
Purple upholstered walls rise
above the body of Omnia,
where I took the place of dozens of sailors,
to tell her in the morning
“I am far away.”
I am Omnia.
The wing of high flights.
On me, I patiently carry
desires.
Each drains a hole in me
and after winter sleep
I am the food for the little creatures.
2. House of the Politician
With a raised collar of the doorframe,
with the hat of the dusk pulled over his eyes,
door handle clamped on the butt of the gun,
I guard a certain little liar.
I throw my lot in with his,
“I am far away.”
I have no children.
I am among the one hundred million voters.
I endlessly hunt myself.
3. House of God
I am the history of a certain rebellion.
Pine and cedar were used to make the distant goal closer
So that one could climb up to heaven
But the captain hanging from the mast
reads the map in vain—
only bloody pulp in front of the eyes.
No winds move the sails of words.
I remain faithful to him.
I am the number. They say
a certain amount of failure,
alchemically melted
into triumph.
Put your hands together.
Think, how far from the tip of the fingers
to the toes.
4. House by the Hour
On the first floor, the sun rises later,
let us respect the absence of light.
A strange smell in the mattress,
it hasn’t been aired here since last summer.
When they open the doors,
there is only a bed left, a white rhinoceros.
Do not touch its skin
because its whiteness will wrinkle nervously.
Come in.
Do not exceed the indicated time.
Turn off the light when leaving.
