Desire for a Monument

Lac, originally uploaded by eloisavh.

DESIRE FOR A MONUMENT

Set a monument for me,
built of sugar, in the sea.
It will melt, of course, and make
briefly a sweet-water lake;
meanwhile, fishes by the score
take surprised a sip or more.
They, in various ports, will then
be consumed, in turn, by men.
This way I will join the chain
of humanity again,
while, were I of stone or steel,
just some pigeon ungenteel,
or perhaps a Ph.D.
would discharge his wit on me.

CHRISTIAN MORGENSTERN