Amicale

   On this March 31st, here is the final echo of this poetic eruption, carried by the pen of Strasbourg University student Kreshnik Hoti.

Pompeii

Eii eii,

Pom-pom.Like a shadow, it takes over the sky.

I wonder alone if I, too, am to cry.

 

Raindrops drop.

Don’t forget the four-minute rule—

When the fire alarm goes on,

Take a blanket,

A wet one, better.

 

Cover the fire,

And let the smoke be a desire.

Don’t forget to put on a mask,

Or else your lungs won’t stop bleeding

For days to come.

 

Get on your knees when opening the door.

Knock beforehand, or else—

You’ll see something

You will never forget.

 

Let the fire roam up the sky

Until dust covers your eyes—

Blinds you, more like.

 

Then pray to the gods

For another raindrop.

 

Be silent.

Remain anxious.

But run like a coward—

 

North,

South,

East,

And West.

 

Save her.

Save him.

Save the child.

Try to save the elder.

Save yourself.

 

Don’t be stupid.

Spiderman isn’t real.

We need no heroes.

 

And then—

Sit in silence.

Grow a moustache.

Show that mullet.

 

Light up a cigarette. 

With fire—

Not the one from a lighter,

But rather the one you’ve held back

Since you were a child.

 

Light it up.

Smoke it.

Burn it up like a dragon.

 

Don’t look back.

Not ever for a second.

 

Leave no cracks.

Burn it all up.

Set this world on fire.

 

Make us join the dinosaur realm—

Not the one in New York City,

The one far off,

Where the gods live,

Where milk and honey rivers are a thing.

 

Go back in time.

Enter the garden.

Be a snake, or whatever.

Take the apple from Eva’s hand.

Slap her.

Make it all go away.

Make it happen—

 

Or else,

Smoke is going to take over.

 

And my dear, I fear, then

I’d be too late to take action.

 

                                         Kreshnik Hoti