Coffee shop/ translated by Avshalom Guissin
Coffee shop, on my own, and a pendulum gaslight,
in the ashes the embers of shooting stars die.
And how strange! – often times here on some of those late nights,
even I remain sitting, so quiet and shy.
An oriental tune trilled in outstretching pleasure,
with billowing smoke like a cat’s grey tail.
Oh but that you were here, sat before me for measure!
Who will hush up and hear out my tale?
So it was, and so always – the drinking house darkness,
and a wandering look that returns to one's own.
She came in and sat down (yet to make his acquaintance)
The young shepherd of Solomon's Song.
She was here, and she was, and so unlike yours truly
she was beautiful, very much so.
Like the blade of a spear she was shining so purely
with a tearful and quiet soft glow.
Coffee shop, on my own, and a pendulum gaslight,
in the ashes the embers of shooting stars die.
And how strange! – often times here on some of those late nights,
even I remain sitting, so quiet and shy.
An oriental tune trilled in outstretching pleasure,
with billowing smoke like a cat’s grey tail.
Oh but that you were here, sat before me for measure!
Who will hush up and hear out my tale?
So it was, and so always – the drinking house darkness,
and a wandering look that returns to one's own.
She came in and sat down (yet to make his acquaintance)
The young shepherd of Solomon's Song.
She was here, and she was, and so unlike yours truly
she was beautiful, very much so.
Like the blade of a spear she was shining so purely
with a tearful and quiet soft glow.