Sorcerer Sonnets
after Pierre de Lorraine (1649-1721)
1
First take a sphere-shaped flask, in which you pass
the live quintessence of a rose's seed.
Incinerate it, then collect and feed
a summer night's chill dew into a glass
retort. Distil the dew, extract the pure
salt from the ash and mix it with the dis-
tillate. Take borax, seal the flask with this,
then place it on some steaming horse manure,
to start a one-month maturation phase.
Now if the jellied matter swells inside,
and so the pressure is intensified
then you've succeeded – for on sunny days,
with precious petals in that crystal sphere
the spirit of the true rose will appear.
2
First take a flask: your own self, where you fit
the essence of the life that you pursue.
Incinerate that, and the heavy dew
of your benighted love shall moisten it.
Distil it, mix the word drawn from the ash
with memories extracted in the heat
and with the borax seal of self-deceit
bung up the steaming self-infected trash
to start a one-month maturation phase.
If by the wailing memories inside
the pressure mounts and you feel crucified
then you've succeeded – for on sunny days,
with metaphors awakened in your eyes
the spirit of the poem will arise.
Translation: March 2003
Translated by Peter Zollman