The squirrel cowers in the innermost depths of the hole.
But the forest’s populace wants her out.
Something horrible will happen soon
if I don’t save her from this snare.
I shall climb the tree without waking the forest’s cruel rulers,
pull her out of this trap.
This way, joy may live on
and the forest not be pervaded by death.

To be honest, I don’t care about the wounds I receive.
For, squirrels cornered by nosiness and strangled by envy
create an infinite hemorrhage in my flesh.

Quietly, I pass through the ambush’s savagery.
Luckily none of them see me, those creatures whose mouths
overflow with saliva and blood. Just when my hand is about to enter the
hole
and reach for the frightened squirrel…

Something grabs hold of my back, launches me among the trees…

Albatross

An albatross swept me from the branches.
His claws found the most painless part of my flesh.
He held on to the small of my back
and chose the least traveled of the birds’ sky roads.
When his wings broke the branches, the forest’s grim meddlers
scattered from the sound. This way, at least
the squirrel’s elation would last a while longer.
Rising toward the sky, I felt at ease.

The albatross moved toward the great river that flowed in the distance.
I realized that my path would cross the river’s. Just as I started to relax,
to abandon my flesh to the albatross’ mercy,
something unexpected happened.
Whereas we still had a long way to the river,
the albatross set me down in his mate’s nest.
The lady albatross was stock-still. First with one eye,
then, turning her head, with the other, she scrutinized me.
Birds only accommodate in their bird beds
those they can trust with both eyes.

This is how I was welcomed into the albatrosses’ home.
The male albatross who brought me here
left to find some food.
As for the lady albatross’ expressive eye, in this short time
it would tell me a secret about love.

The lady albatross told me about her man.
It had taken her a long time to choose him.
The albatross, to choose a spouse, puts him to the test:
persuading a lady albatross to be inseminated isn’t easy.
A lady albatross needs a promise from her man.
A bird needs to know what to expect, right?