CONSTANTINE CAVAFIS
Waiting for the barbarians...
- Barbarians are to arrive today.
- Why is such an idleness present in the senate?
The Senators, why lazing, why don't they legislate?
- Because of barbarians arriving today.
What kind of laws shall Senators state?
Barbarians, when here, will legislate.
- Why is our emperor so early up the morning,
sittinh beside the greatest gate of our city
upon the throne, official dress, and wearing up his crown?
- Because of barbarians arriving today.
And emperor is waiting to receive
their leader. And furthermore he has prepared
a parchment to deliver. And there he
assigns to him several titles and names.
- What are two consuls and praetors doing out
today in red embroidered mantles of their own
why do they carry bracelets with so many amethysts
and rings with brilliant emeralds so glimmering so shine
why do they keep so precious sticks today in their hands
in silver and in gold exceptionally sculptured?
- Because of barbarians arriving today
and such things astonish the barbarians.
- Why are the worthy orators not coming as they do
to speak their speaches out, to say what they say?
- Because of barbarians arriving today
and they are so bored by fluences, orations.
- Why is this anxiety so suddenly appearing
and this confusion (Faces so serious become).
Why are the streets beeing emptied squares are emptied too
and everyone is going home so sunk in reasonings of own?
- Because it's night and barbarians have yet not come.
And some who have arrived from borders
said barbarians do not exist no more.
- And what is to become of us without barbarians.
These people could give us a certain release.
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