The Veil of Ether

Okay, so I needed a break from watching my portfolio increase in value (like watching grass grow, albeit more quickly of late), so I decided to read some poetry I might find online. But did the first poem I read (link) have to be so damned good...? And what is worse (better ;-) is that the poem is translated, which means it is excellent in both languages! Kudos both to the poet and the translator!

The Veil of Ether

by Guy Goffette

It makes no difference that we know the sky is only
an illusion, like happiness when everything is going:
the little boats as time passes, the horizon
like a flexed bow or like

the hip of a woman in the arms of sleep,
everything, everything turns bitter at the least occasion:
the sight of a narrow room, of a row
of poplars under the window

-the same poplars, the same window,
form and content of an unbearable absence-
no difference, yes, that it's only a veil of ether
on our wounded eyes, it's still for the sky

that we bargain away space and all the colors."

—Translated by Marilyn Hacker