A stairway leads into the sea Poem by Erik Lindner

A stairway leads into the sea
a wave breaks across a step

a ship pulling against its chains
its hull bulging

a driver opens the door of the moving car
and spits the betelnut onto the receding ground

a rolling cigarette sprays a circle of sparks

leaves patter against the passing carriage
on the metro a man's still wearing his helmet

there's the rain that's putting out the fire

there's a dog guarding two sheep
and trotting up and down the field

walk down a stairway

push off from a step.

Translation: Francis Jones