inside the glass case
an ocean throbs
in the bosom of disquiet
the refrain of waves
revenge
or oath
n

crystal love
crystal sorrow
the crystal bird’s
crystal nest
amid crystal leaves
on the crystal branch
of the crystal tree
in the crystal valley
n

you polish the dust and stains
on the statues
me, the darkness and years
that envelop you

the little daughter
watching the goldfish
in the aquarium
we who look at her
n

a figurine fell off the showcase
and broke
(an unceremonious end
it might have foreseen)

a handful of mud
and some iron rods
the maid swept away

the emptiness that remained
you divided
among the other figurines
n

tired of flying
the bird homes in
on the branch of the wind

telling stories
grandma put out the lamp
and lay down
in the corridor of stories itself
n

in the glass case of looks
oh! darling
for me
even you are
a curio