Chrysogonus' Translation #50 - from Mikaela Castledine 'Lacerations'

 irisan

kusangka itu jus tomat

ternyata darah

pinggiran tajam kaleng

setipis molekul

bak pisau

mengeliling jemariku

hanya dengan sentuhan di kulit

bagai phlebotomis terhebat

menari lincah di antara sel

hanya setelahnya kau sadari

kau telah tertusuk

diiris dengan sengat ringan

ujung tajam atom

kaleng tomat cacah

I thought it was tomato juice

turned out to be blood

the can's close cutting edge

thinned to mere molecules

of sharpness

rimmed around my carrying fingers

with barely a touch felt on my skin

like the best phlebotomist

easing so smoothly between the cells

it is only afterwards you realise

you have been pierced

lacerated with the tiniest of stings

by the atom sharp edge

of the diced tomato tin