The Axolotl

English version by Liviu Martinescu - a solo nijuin renku - waves covered in wind in our blood the salt of the sea is seeking the shore autumn clouds scattered by viola d'amore insatiably drinking in the image of those conches lurking amongst barren poplars devious ways in a square black against white stuck between word and shadow time a salamander I would twirl your red hair in yellow rings through rolls of thick fog to meet the axolotl bearing the face of my beloved afloat away from our own selves among unknown engravers in the foreign harbour anemones sink the eternal sky in the long forgotten bell crickets have taken shelter melting wax covers the books of metamorphosis smoky chrysalides rise from among vowels the shape of the larva slowly yields the contour of your absence my palm feels the vortex of your frozen name a scream snowed under albatrosses with myrtle in their beaks shattering the moon how changed the last water dwellings a cluster of birches from one being into another music will pass it's only the sound of time that entices grass to germinate amongst plum blossoms the hourglass sends up its sand up/down to the last grain deep into lilac woods fire devouring fire