Blood
Lyrics
from
the Tokharian
1.
They set the table under
the tree:
I saw your hunger and was
ashamed.
I covered myself with
words and silence
to break the line
from your mouth to mine.
Exile blackens your
tongue with knowledge,
your black pupils are
ravenous for my hunger.
Every day
in the oven of your mouth
you burn and raise me –
daily bread.
I taste of ash.
Eat me.
2.
When you put your hands
around my neck
I didn’t know
whether I was large or
small.
My bones flew out into
the universe
and began to sing –
a scatter of small birds.
Did you kill me
or love me?
Night rises from the
earth.
Always the same night
with its claws at my
stomach.
3.
You place your world
between my teeth.
I take it with care –
this instrument on my
tongue
beautiful steel.
Your words bridle me.
Where are we going?
Into pain that breaks
every bone in my face?
Moving your words
quietly, you fill my
mouth with world –
bright, bitter coin!
© Fiona Sampson
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