About waiting for the Barbarians-

(This poem by Constantine P. Cavafy's poem (1904), originally in Greek, apparently inspired JM Coatzee for his novel, I saw an Opera based on this recently I highly recommend)

What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?

The barbarians are to arrive today.

Why such inaction in the Senate?
Why do the Senators sit and pass no laws?

Because the barbarians are to arrive today.
What laws can the Senators pass any more?
When the barbarians come they will make the laws.

Why did our emperor wake up so early,
and sits at the greatest gate of the city,
on the throne, solemn, wearing the crown?

Because the barbarians are to arrive today.
And the emperor waits to receive
their chief. Indeed he has prepared
to give him a scroll. Therein he inscribed
many titles and names of honor.

Why have our two consuls and the praetors come out
today in their red, embroidered togas;
why do they wear amethyst-studded bracelets,
and rings with brilliant, glittering emeralds;
why are they carrying costly canes today,
wonderfully carved with silver and gold?

Because the barbarians are to arrive today,
and such things dazzle the barbarians.

Why don't the worthy orators come as always
to make their speeches, to have their say?

Because the barbarians are to arrive today;
and they get bored with eloquence and orations.

Why all of a sudden this unrest
and confusion. (How solemn the faces have become).
Why are the streets and squares clearing quickly,
and all return to their homes, so deep in thought?

Because night is here but the barbarians have not come.
And some people arrived from the borders,
and said that there are no longer any barbarians.

And now what shall become of us without any barbarians?
Those people were some kind of solution.

Sobre las coincidencias…

Todo comienza con Rotterdam, un amigo que vive en M. ha encontrado una plaza en esta ciudad.
Al otro día en Linz una ciudad (un poco) desconocida en Austria, me encuentro frente a frente a un compañero de trabajo de J, ciudad que queda a 800 km al norte!

Regresando a M, en vez de ir a tomar cerveza a la fiesta de octubre (que en realidad empieza en septiembre), voy al cine con D., elegimos una pelicula al azar y resulta ser ‘les soeurs fachées’ que habla de 2 hermanas muy distintas- justo cuando acabo de encontrar a mi hermana en L-A y nos hemos percatado de nuestras diferencias- yo soy de la capital, ella de provincia- etc etc.
De regreso a J, un compañero me dice que ha conocido a alguien en Rotterdam (ver arriba) y resulta que me conoce. Se trata de un viejo compañero de juerga- el A. En seguida me pongo a escribir estas líneas- no vaya a ser que el conjuro de las coincidencias siga... 

East German tells

S. is rather out of her teens, an early 20 year old, she has a chance to go to university these days. They are those citizens, whose important memories from childhood are how much they wanted to have ‘Kinder’ surprise, how cool the cousins from the west were because they had ‘Scout’ backpacks and all the different Barbie dolls. Happiness was just on such small things.

Berlin nights

The sun has stretched itself into a reddish- pink light in the horizon.
It’s a particular city, you can seen the complete sky surrounding you- and barely some trees blocking the view. We are lying in the sand after a volleyball game- and have a cold large beer- everything seems perfect. Especially your eyes, glancing through your hair- mingled with the night sky coming way behind…