SHAME

As long as a knife has not cut
This brain, unfolding
White wrapping, greasy, green,
Its odor always cold, (He, this thing, should slit
His nose, lips, ears, belly, all!
Disown and leave his legs!
A marvel!) No; I know that as long as
A knife has not cut his head
Nor a rock crushed his thigh
Nor fire seared his gut, As long as none has acted, this child,
This bother, this mindless beast,
Will never for an instant rest
From trickery and treason, And like a Rocky Mountain cat
Will stink in the world's air!
Yet when he dies, O God...

Let someone say a prayer.

Translation by Paul Schmidt