does the poet speak in vain?
no less than the driver of a locomotive,
and certainly no more than a Republican senator;
does the poet say nonsense?
the same ones that have been said
since the appearance alive of writing,
no more no less;
Does the poet try to seduce with his writing?
in the same way the peacock with its plumage
in the same way the general with his victories;
Does nothing differentiate the poet from the non-poet?
certainly yes, certainly no,
because everything is and is not
in the same way that nothing ceases to be something;
Is poetry good for anything?
not specifically
in the abstract much less,
a German once found Troy while reading Homer,
apart from that, no other glory supports it;
does the poet speak in vain?
Somebody should say something about it sometime.
One thing is for sure:
poetry has nothing to do with the poet,
just as justice owes nothing to the judge
or the laurel plant to green color.
The century will come in which all this will be avenged.
In some manual of Vain Things
it will appear written: "... and they also made poetry".