Service Office by Tomasz Różycki

Service Office

I played the part of man, and more or less

it came to me quite well. I used deceptions,

makeup, mascara, base, a huge number

of words, for nearly everything is possible

with words, and everything was going well,

life from a suitcase, life on credit, nerves

before a trip, a house, a name and surname,

words, a whole host. I played the part of man,

and I was expert at it. Words like friendship,

father, woman, love, the word betrayal,

the word forgive. I could have forgotten myself,

I could have gotten lost in making words

my body, hands, and heart, little was missing.

Only the dog could tell. He bristled in his sleep.

(Translated by Mira Rosenthal)