“Umbrella in a Bathtub” by Tomaž Šalamun, translation from Slovene by Brian Henry | Blackbird v20n2

Slovene
back TOMAŽ ŠALAMUN
translation from Slovene by Brian Henry

Umbrella in a Bathtub

Slander the coffin so it
falls apart. So the corpse doesn’t

look like some
sushi. Warn the owner that the castle will

burn down. That flesh will be
inhaled. That people will

throw towels and a trough from
windows. Handles and

a trough. Alternating. Like Tesla’s
current. Like a steamboat that breaks down

outside the mill.
Like a fox curled up

in the forest. Like a child who
steps on a stool and falls.