“Femme au café” (Absinthe Drinker) by
Pablo Picasso (1901-02)
Bashing
coconuts with knives impressively sharp
Why
do we have to wonder what’s going on in the kitchen
If we
can just ask the chef to spill the beans
It’s
unlikely they’d even be thinking about us if they’ve been responding
With
silence
The
whole time
What
do they think when they hear our names once they’ve learnt to hate us
Our
chins are sticky with fatigue
There’s
no big deal with being a loner
They’d
doubtless be sitting by the lake and stalking families they’re glad
Not
to be a part of
Reflection
has always been the most tedious task of human capacity
We’re
always thinking what we’ll do next before we’re even done doing what
We
are doing
Is irrelevant
there’s only so many people we can befriend
Before
We’ve
befriended them all before and made enemies out of the whole lot
They’re
so curious about how we’re living our lives
They
want a share of our alcohol
To
bathe their wrinkling hands with
Humour
is everywhere for the humorous
We
don’t have to be comedians for anyone but ourselves
There’s
no point trying to get them onto our side when we’re capable of fighting
For
ourselves
Be
true to yourself when no one is around
For
there is nothing more sad than forcing yourself to be someone else in your own
company
They
think we’re weak
Until
they provoke the unknown
Thus
is the price they pay for judging in the dark
Darkness
has always been our friend for this reason
We’re
stronger than we think we are
Stronger
than the glass bottles they line before our vision
Better
not lose sight of our competition
They
better warn us before they strike again
