Across Europe

To M. Ch.

Rotsoge

Your red face your convertible biplane/seaplane

Your round house with its smoked herring having a

swim

The key of eyelids I need

Thank God we’ve seen M. Parado

And are at ease that way

What do you see old M.D....

90 or 324 a man up in the air a little calf staring out from

the womb

I’ve searched the highways lengthily

So many eyes are shut along the highways

The wind makes willow groves weep

Open open open open open

Look now look really

An old man washing his feet in the sink

Una volta ho inteso dire Chè vuoi

I cry to remember your childhoods

And you what do you show me an awful violet

This small picture has a car in it reminds me of the day

A day of bits mauve yellow blue green red

When I sallied forth to the country with a charming

chimney leading her bitch on a leash

That’s it your kazoo is out

The chimney smoked her Russian cigarettes away from me

Her bitch yapped at lilacs

The nightlight went out

Her dress was petals all over

Two gold rings by her sandals

Caught the sunlight

But your hair’s the trolley

Across Europe wearing little pied fires

Guillaume Apollinaire