I walked upright
until I approached
the walls
of the sleeping houses,
my shadow upright
next to me.
All of a sudden, it broke
on one of the walls.
And it remained broken,
even
when I had retraced my steps
from the walls.
Frightened and careful
I looked around.
Yet, my shadow remained broken
though the path did run straight now.
Vienna, 28 April 2000
(translated from German by Wolfgang Astelbauer.
”Aus dem Teppich meiner Schatten”, edition selene, Vienna 2002)