RAQUEL CHALFI
ALL THE
All the cakes and all the celebrations
and all the dresses and all the abortions
and all the smiles and all the wiles
and all the jackets and all the coffee
and all the talking and all the shmalking
and all the vases and all the poses
or all the arrayal and all the betrayal
or all the make-up and all the break-up
and all the thoughts and all the fucks
and all the entertainment and all the gossip
and all the flirting and all the rating
and all the chips and all the clips
and all the gelling and all the ass-wiggling
and all the make-up and all the stand-up
and all the fashion and all the masturbation
and all the goopie and all the whoopie
and all the drugs and all the drinks and all the clinks
and all the mob screamings and all the shouts of “Goal!”
and all the hustling and all the bustling
and all the muscling and all the poems
and all the forgeries and all the gorgeries
are nothing
but
tiny
blinks
of
the eye
refusing
to see
the
abyss
translated by Karen Alkalay-Gut
with the poet
For more on Raquel Chalfi, go to the ITI site