One Cast-Off Bandage

from The Pyramid Texts

Ancient Egypt

Collect thy bones; arrange thy limbs;
shake off thy dust; untie thy bandages.
The tomb is open for thee; the double doors of the coffin are undone for thee;
the double doors of heaven are open for thee.
....

...thy soul is in thy body; thy might is behind thee; remain master of thy powers.
Raise thyself up,
travel over the southern regions; travel over the northern regions;
be thou powerful over the powers that are in thee.

~ Translated by Samuel Mercer

One Appropriated Tear

from A poet, like a soldier 

By Nichita Stănescu 

A poet, like a soldier
has no life of his own.
His own life is wrecks
and ruins.

With the forceps of his cerebrum he lifts
the emotions of ants
brings them closer and closer to his eye
until they and his eye become one.
....

 
During waves of heat
he fans himself with flocks of birds
he startles into flight.

None of you should believe a poet when he cries.

His tear is never his own.
He has wiped tears from things
and cries things’ tears.


~ Translated by Sean Cotter | Book