The Hypochondriac
Benjamin Péret
I'm the hair made of lead
that falls from a star like a star
becoming the comet
that will destroy you in a year and a day

Right now there's neither year nor day
there's an impeccable plant
and you'd like to be its equal

To be the equal of plants
you have to be great during life
and staunch in death
Thus I'm alone unmoving and mute as a star
feet bathing in the clouds
that just like mouths
condemn me to stay amongst the unmoving beings
the plants' despair

But one day the insurgent liquids
will spew toward the clouds
murderous arms
wielded by women as blue
as the eyes of the north's daughters

And that day will take place in a year and a day
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