Hotel situation, long recumbency Poem by Steffen Popp

Heart's domain, neon and slow exchange of these wares
- somehow meditate, somehow stay awake -

as the scene mesmerized us, with its highs and lows
the evening is full of speech, but the words limp

the bodies of plants regenerate themselves, wooden and
still, trojan horses, we lie at the bottom of the city

so awake, in its sleep, our patient flesh
communicates with rivers. Wandering currents, near shore

hesitant skin, the tiny emotion makes you content
dream figures fall out of my years like foliage

excessive tree pollen. Let us now journey long
to water, to land and to air, let us now forever

never abandon this hotel. Never with the stars, never
cease, in the music. Your pulse, your hair is flying.

Translated by Christian Hawkey