Set 5: Mondo de Sunbrilo
Translated by John Gallas

1
Complaint    Hans Davidsohn (Jakob van Hoddis) (1887-1942)/Jewish-Germany

And will the sunlight murder all my dreams –
the pale, sweet children of my lazy fancies?
The days have got so garish and so flat.
My satisfaction wears a cloudy hat.
Anxieties disturb my peace.

Like Celestial-Solar Police.


2
Cockadoodledoo    (Anon/first century B.C./China)

In the east the sun is shouldering near. The stars’ sparkle fades.
The cock stalks up the wall and shrieks. Cockadoodledoo!
Last night’s songs are done, the waterclock has run out,
the remains of a party lie scattered in the dining room.
The moon politely dissolves with the stars. Morning is here.
Click clack at a thousand gates and ten thousand doors
the keys, like little flipping fish, turn in their wards.
Round the Big House, and up by the fortress
...