I am falling, stillness notwithstanding,
falling, falling – forever falling down
these stairs, I bruise my shoulders,
bruise my hips, I bear perdition in
my body: endless depths within
the belly
shining in all its parts,
behold!
the heart abyssal, curvum
in se all trembling at the cognizance
and full of scorpions, dear wife:
root-cap finger, influenza influence,
desdichado
désolée, backward bleeding
dissolution, O this blasted hinterland,
this severed creek where deathbirds
fly;
O womb of Carthage, salt-sown
and ravaged,
working will insensible, oh
make straight the way!
Christus sub terra
Pantokrator
alone who grades true
make me eager and willing –
only comfort, only comfort.