***

Nothing is right here, you see:

morning flooded the valley,

in the forest a pine hedgehog

carried the sun on its back.

A woman goes to the river

to wash her thinning sheets,

in a minute the regiments will descend—

turning the river gold.

Look closely: for in a second—

the river will carry them away.

Listen, do you hear how blood courses

through horses and soldiers? . .

Translated by Olena Jennings