From Mantis 5

BOB PERELMAN

THE TASK OF THE TRANSLATOR

This got meant onto a page inside

a set of moments one evening of

a day which will never die now

that it is night

poeticians long sung to sleep

feet to the famous flames

And once meant it leapt kicking against

the prick inside

Again, it's saying, write me again! Now!

which makes me know

this once while I forget for good

that each knows

nothing better than anyone else that my

nothing is the same as everyone's that to write touches

down faster

than any word falls, ethical statisticianon

one of its many colors

dyeing the second sea black & white

and that once in the twist of

the lines there's nothing but to watch the wet

waves dry and let the client walk.