Has love been Bolood written ?

01- has love been blood-written
02- has marrow yet, been poured for it
03- a person peeled, the skin from their back or ribs
has expression of this
been offered in flesh
cut from the cheeks

has blood extracted
its colour still red
uncoagulated
been scooped from the arteries

11- poured into a milk vessel
    have two people offered it
    one to the other
    as they would fresh milk
    have they shared it happily

14- time-separated in spirit
    in body as by a thorn fence
    sworn to each other
    one morning have two
    after first soaking rain
    the damp mist dense
    in an unpeopled place
    where apart from the trees
    nothing stirred
    become aware of each other’s rustle

22- did that true meeting
    seem a vision to them
    brought by love’s plight
    or its mirage
    from time to time
    as if suddenly waking
    out of a dream
    did their speech
    desiring utterance
    pass from a mouth
    if just a howl
    did words elude them
    was the situation soured by this

32- did spots of ceaseless rain
    emotion’s tears
    spill from their eyes
    did it soak their clothes
    did they sweat compassion

    disoriented with but
    a stutter of movement
    they were stuck
    each time a word
    no link with others
    lacking substance
    limped out alone
43- was it ten days later
44- their tongue and palate
45- found strength for it


46- but they are born for success
47- of equal standing
    parted for so long
50- did they greet one another
51- exchanging stories
52- did each for their part
53- pass on the trials
54- sustained through their love
55- did they read the message
56- exchange their news

57- love was a food store
58- which when it was heated
59- with charcoal and fire
60- the glowing embers
    of emotions stirred
    did they fill a large pot
    time after time
    drag the enclosure’s
    night-time gate
    each one with tender eyes
    seeing nothing harmed the other
66- did they listen thus,
67- for a whole year

68- did the talking end
69- did they then spend half a day

    in this silent way
    as the daylight fell
    from their staring gaze
    their inflamed thoughts
    did they pass that night
    like the camel herders
    in nocturnal endurance
    of cold and dark
    difficulties bringing illness

did the dawn then glow
and the sun call out
approaching each other
not crossing the boundary
of mores and modesty
longing for a balm
with a mere forearm
between them did they stand
bodies held straight
opposite each other
avoiding the step
of moving closer
resisting the play-touch
the youthful way
the taste glimpsed
in the distance
did they just behold each other
through their eyes

84- they stood on the spot
85- each one gazing
86- standing upright
87- did it last a thousand nights

the legs of the termite
emerged from the earth
breaking the surface skin
did it peel their bodies
consume the flesh
did it wound the veins
pass to the nerves
persisting
to the very inside of the bone

the bad news
it places in you
that you look on with fear
is the trials and your death
did they welcome it
with their whole body and a smile

there’s a flower which blooms
after morning’s compassion
has refreshed it with dew
it brings forth a red liquid
for the mouth to sip
its stamen and stigma
entwine like a rope
was it this they exchanged
offering as a legacy
did they present it to taste
as the last earthly food of love
did they place at the other’s ear
the word which was missing

the termite gathered up
sand and detritus
forming clay diligently
rendering and plastering
did it transform those two
did a building arise
did it mould from them
a structure of wonder
a lofty termite mound
famed for its thickness and strength

roaming in the sun-heat
of daytime did people
in the dry season grazing lands
rest in its shade
then move away in the evening
unaware of the reality
of the story that deep inside
this shady backbone support
two souls await the outcome of truth

if self sacrifice is not made
the breath of life not exchanged
if one does not wait
for an enduring legacy
the building of a house upright
children and earthly sustenance
then the kisses and intentions
are nothing but superficial
a poison sipped to satisfaction
in that one same moment
like hyenas snatching
a girl of good repute
as they hide themselves
in the higlo tree
to pounce out quickly
each man is expectant
for what will fall to him
a hyena and his grave hole
the honour he has trampled
the modesty he has snatched
the lying illusion
this does society harm

did he strive for the highest level
of fulfilment of love
that closest to honour
or is something still missing
 

Translated by Martin Orwin.