Optics

by Sergej Timofejev
translated by Kevin M. F. Platt

The provincialism of the air,
Provincialism of the water.
The provincialism of the glass
holding back the pressure of air and water.
The provincialism of conditions behind the glass
holding back the pressure of air and water.
The provincialism of the person who lives
In the conditions behind the glass
holding back the pressure of air and water.
The possible predetermination of all of this.
The ritual of morning coffee and news on the radio.
A little note on the table: “No one here knows anything.
— possibly, just out of the loop.  Don’t get ahead of events.”
The sound of the gas lighting up in the boiler:
confident, businesslike, cognizant
of its own meaning and the scale of the mission.