Think of the distance

Think of the distance
between the carriage and the platform
before you get off the train
Think of the rapidly receding prime numbers
before you get off the train
Think of the distance between orders to murder

and their victims in the actual wars
before you talk about Progress
and don’t think that you can get off the train

Think of the distance between the galaxies
before you start to rave about divine providence
that keeps a check on frozen sparrows and down-and-outs

Think of the distance
between skin and skin
while you wait

for the right one


From the Swedish by John Irons