Anyway we had dogs along
blond brush cuts hip-tall tassel hounds
more obedient than a shadow tugging at
the collar someone had stuffed our hearing gear with
paper and woven plaits
into our hair the cabbage curled
at our feet we

trod on slippery leaf ribs in the clearing
the alphabetical snow!

Crooked as commas we came into the copse
of half-loud wingbeats (the cold had
tuned our instruments) and made
motor noise: Barkas!
we called, Barkas! or crowed in overtones

(to think out how Bettine shrieked
when we walked across the carpet)

In the forest of the single picture
calls came out of our bellies in ancient languages.
We found the meridian established
the place with staffs and candlewax knotted
each time a dog skin into the quiet pines

Tents since then each one with a drum under its
skin as a pastime for expected
caravans scientific idiot test
infinity of names with which the elves are fed up

Translation by Andrew Duncan