I met two boys
under the arch of the bridge at night
who peed on the pillars and
said that they were seven
said that they were lice-infested.
They laughed at me when I
believed it. Nothing to gain
but lice, the smaller one revealed.
He pointed to the bushes and stepped
on my instep. I would have loved
to fall in love with him, nothing else
that night was to be had
so cheaply. The bigger one asked me if it were true
that even animals cannot
die alone. It was much too late
for boys to be out under that bridge.

Translated by Donna Stonecipher