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Marco Martos

Household

Translated by Michael L. Smith

At last you bought yourself the drapes
that you wanted so much and thus improved
the appearance of your house.
At dusk
when you switch on the lamps
the face of the Modigiliani looks
iridescent
Day to day
your pots become shinier,
your kitchen cleaner, and the floors
especially spotless.
From
the staircase that you begin
to dream of,
you will step out onto the terrace
and from ther eyou will see, when you wish,
the distant tail lights.
You sleep alone however:
at times a cold sweat,
a gust of win,
a creak of the door
remind you that you are alone
and that in another time you loved.

Where They Do Not Love, 1974