I was washing the pot with my eyes closed,
running my hand over its surface,
searching for unacceptable bumps.
I kept telling myself perfectly clear minds
killed the Jews, yes, I said, the killers
were given advice, stay calm, lean forward,
do what yo have to do with a clear mind.
And the Korean monks, life after life,
calm, forward, clear mind.
My posture was bad from bending over the sink.
I looked like someone who was going to spit.
How awful to be on all fours
when you met your death!
But mostly the evenings were calm.
Flat pond, tribunal of frogs,
lettuces growing in the turned earth,
a spade lying by in the half-greened grass,
and a baby duckling in the water
swimming behind his mother.
Why, there are six of them, they appear
to be gliding, it’s positively depressing
we should try to be more like animals
and less like them at the same time.