With flower
2018
Oil on canvas
90х60
Seams
Between the steps that lead
to the basement of KFC
and a litter-bin
on a tin windowsill
sits a man.
There’s blood on his hood and his brow.
“Here”
I hold out
what I carry around in my wallet
all the time.
"Please let me…”
Though screwed up he is perfectly able
to realize everything.
“Sure, OK”.
The credence with which
he put back his head and pulled off the hood
broke my heart.
Now I can see his brow. And the blood.
I stick a plaster over his eye.
“Bad, huh?”
"Well, visible. Did you fall down?"
Certainly not. He was beaten.
When I went away I thought
Was the plaster necessary?
But – let it be. Sobered up,
On his forehead he’ll find
A sign.
__
Natalia Mandelshtam
Translation by Kira Usatenko
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