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Annabelle Farmelant: The Circus (From Hebrew)

The Circus
By Annabelle Farmelant
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

I have grown tame cat claws.
When the wheel revolves for my next incarnation
I will return
As a lion.
I will re-turn time to circa the Roman circus
And they will set me loose in the ring. 
All beasts walk on two feet
And I will dig my claws into the flesh of all
The men of little heart and little mind
And puke my shame in their faces. 
A typical shame I swallowed in secret.
The snow has long melted
The snowdrop long died out
But I can never blacken even the name
Of shame
So typical, so pure and bright. 
Men of little mind and little heart,
Your hearts that were ocean-vast
Shrank back into the mire of imbecility,
Your minds brilliant
As adamant gemstones
Switched for bogus rhinestones
That used to be the cornerstone
Of Empire. 
Now shout not: "Ave, long live Caesar!" 
His stoney pity
Shall never be moved. 
Shout not: "Ave, long live Caesar!"
All the Caesars are long dead. 
When the next revolution cycles
The wheel will run faster, and the corner
Stone will spin
Together with Empire
You'll be a tail, a chariot
Dragged on and on
While the buffoon in jest arises
To the throne.

The Original:


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