I Stumble and Fall

A long silent street

I walk in blackness and i stumble and fall and rise

and i walk blind

my feet stepping on silent stones and dry leaves

Someone behind, also stepping on stones, leaves

If i slow down, he slows

If i run, he runs

I turn ; nobody

Everything dark and doorless

Turning and turning these corners

which lead forever to the street

where nobody waits for, nobody follows me

Where i pursue a man who stumbles

and rises, and says when he sees me : nobody

Octavio Paz

image

Thomas Scilipoti