EN
And with his round belly, he slowly circled around
the coffee table
the glass top suspended above the floor
offering the morning paper
waiting for its moment
every second seems like an hour, or
rather, like an eternity
he reached into his breast pocket without thinking;
suddenly he is calmer;
he stares blankly at the door labeled “tests”;
his forehead is sweating;
a match with a pleasant crackle;
lights the tobacco;
he takes a relieved drag;
he can handle this, after all
the door keeps growing in his mind;
it’s getting closer and closer;
and suddenly, as if it wants to swallow him whole…
__________________
…It’s a cold autumn morning;
the sun is sharper than it used to be;
summer is long gone
fragmented memories race through my mind
memories of water
fishing rods
my buddy’s pub
sitting under an old, spreading tree
I’m sipping my coffee now
without a shred of remorse
without a trace of worry
just me and my tobacco
I still live in a magnificent world
I drink black coffee
I gaze at girls and at nature
one more puff of tobacco
The tips of the pine trees intertwine and I…
__________________
…Amid the roar of rumbling machines
Joska’s voice is barely audible
— Hey man, get up
get up, you’ll get hurt —
he slaps his friend
and helps him to his feet —
— What on earth am I doing here —
He sees the hall dimly
slowly begins to take it all in
— how did I end up here —
— well, you were pretty out of it —
Joska takes him outside for some fresh air
— Here you go — He pulls out of the pack
the last two cigarettes
taste, smell, feel, everything’s OK again
at that cigarette
but he doesn’t feel like smoking anymore
in the end, though, he can’t resist…
___________________
…The door swings open and a woman’s voice;
announces — Here’s another one —
— Go ahead then —
and the ruddy-faced gentleman in the jacket gives a slight nod
he sat down nervously
his gaze fixed on his lips
the gentleman reached into the table
— How about a cigarette, young man? —
— Thank you, I don’t smoke anymore —
