On Getting Through It

Tonight

By: Elfriede Jelinek

 

 

Translated By Michael Hofmann

tonight

my sparrows

let go

the snow

into fields of carnations swollen with anger.

tonight

the three popes

proclaim

the revolution

against teenage television.

seals smash

their heads

bloody

their heads

on the elevators

the paternoster elevators

which delays the holding of their conference.

tonight

my sister

the wind's bride

gives blood

for the cello

of the jericho desert

which prompts the trombones

to hold a protest meeting.

tonight

I hang your lips

like birdseed

outside my door

and observe

through the window

their death-struggle

with the she vulture.

tonight

let go

the snow

-About the necklace: carved from nuts, rowena murray’s lockets celebrate childhood whimsy ecouterre