My grandfather was a broken giant, a toothless old bear.
His toil had reduced him to the world of an olive armchair.
It was hard for him to walk, but he was too tired to care.
He sat waiting all day like a worn-out ogre in his lair.
Against his strong pride, he roared us into his great embrace,
Demanded our young kisses on the side of his granite face,
Wrapped love around us that only a lifetime could amass,
And babbled out his affection as if the chance would soon pass.
I witnessed you bathing in napalm rain,
Baptized into being,
Outgrowing immortality,
Sprouting serpent scales
Where there was skin as smooth
As innocence,
Shedding your egg tooth altogether.
Lift your eyes, O humanity!
Above your pride and vanity!
You are but a transient endeavor,
Tossed in the timeless tides of forever!
For what is it that my soul pines
In this darkness to understand!
What mystical riddle defines
These lines in the palm of my hand?
What sublime alchemy divines
The meaning of rumors and sand?
Who vexes me with restless sleep?
From which awareness cannot wake!
Is my only question too deep?
Or the answer too hard to take?
In veracity, would I weep?
Or would my heart with rapture break?
What loss passes before my eyes!
And all the gods but misspent trust!
O what is there in truth but lies!
What am I but shadows and dust!
