theatre with no roof

by Yu Yoyo
     trs. by Sophia Kidd

objects outside the window are swollen
shadows form by natural light
just like a prop
holds up a theatre with no roof

we sit on the balcony and wait
for new actors to appear
just waiting for a car
circling the turntable
two leaves hijack
a piece of wind gone by
sheets dry on the rooftop
giving back the afternoon sun
but only in summer
when the angle’s right
i guessed wrong
about the light
this season

people in the room squint
between glass and air
watching an unknown actor
in a play for unknown reasons
and quickly they blend
into the plot