1917-1935

The Big Mosquito the Mustache and the Little Mandolin

i woke up from a deep and dreamless sleep
with unpleasant objects on my face
sophie said they were a big mosquito a mustache and a little mandolin
i had no intention whatsoever of removing them quite the opposite
i remained motionless so that they wouldn't fall from my face
sophie didn't touch them either
and she told the maid to be extremely careful when feeding me
because much to her regret she had to leave
for italy the country of big mosquitos mustaches and little mandolins
i remained motionless
and inhaled the fragrance of the first flowers
dreams let themselves be guided by a pearl
i heard the plaint of the nightingale
in the mirror i watched a giraffe go by
wearing a mouse on its head
in summer i caught the sound of the far-off booming of a war
the neighbors were talking about peace beds music triangular animals
   before my window
meanwhile sophie came back from italy
she wasn't the least bit surprised
at finding me still lying there with the unpleasant objects on my face
it was then that one night i dreamed that a mouth of fire
soft and at the same time monstrous as a rose
was devouring the big mosquito the mustache and the little mandolin
upon awakening i noted that my face was actually covered with burns
but i was rid of the unpleasant objects

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