Jan Eijkelboom

Frays

Translated from the Dutch by Arno Bohlmeijer

Then a red-brown stem saved
the morning sun, all cedar
of caran d’ache crayons.

Later some ravens were flapping
among the larch branches,
equally frayed.

A lightning flash: the shadow
of a swallow tore
through the summer.

And instantly the stinkhorn
is a forceful presence
in the fairytale woods.

Dying is one of the rare things
that should not be allowed. None-
theless it’s done a lot.