ANGLE

by Marin Sorescu


He put a hand upon the man's eyes
And showed him the World
Painted largely
On a panel.

"What letter is it?"
He asked.
"It is the Night", the man answered.
"You're wrong, it is the Sun.
We all know that the Night
Has no rays. And this one?"
"The Night".
"You make me laugh!
It is the Sea. Where can you find
So much darkness in the Sea?
What about this one?"
The man hesitated for a moment,
Then answered:
"The Night".
"Oh, this one is the Woman.
The Night has no breasts, my dear.
Her black hair misled you,
For sure. And this one?
Look at it attentively
Before you answer."
"The Night, too".
"What a pity, you did not guess, this time either.
This letter was just
Yourself."



(Translated from Romanian by Brigitta Daniela Buda)