the flower

by pamba*

translated from the akkadian by horace p sternwall

illustrations by danny delacroix

there is a flower that will only open when time stops o traveler do not wait upon the sun but hasten from this place this wall of the dreams of kings this palace of beggars this council house of skulls did you dream of stopping time it has already devoured you as the sand devours the sea as tilgath devoured babylon as nabopolassar devoured assyria as alexander devoured egypt as the owl devours the mouse o traveler do not wait but hasten from this place that those who laugh at the wanderings of men may send you a drop of rain a tear from the eye of the beast that devours you

* pamba (c 1 ad - 50 ad) was one of the last poets to write in akkadian. nothing is known of him (her?)