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The Other

by Aryan Kaganof

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aryan Kaganof was born again in randburg in 2001. He drives a Jaguar and shoots Glock. His publications include JOU MA SE POEMS and DAS LIED DER UNNUTZEN (both published by Pine Slopes Publications).

  Book me in to the House of Strangers

 I need a break from Lamentations

 Save me a seat at the Table of Candles

 Why did all the other guests get up and leave?

 Was it something I said?

 Here’s a mirror

 Look at yourself

 You’re not the Man in the Moon anymore

 You’ve become the

 Other

 The one you used to pretend

 Not to scorn

 Go back to your Valley of dark Lamentations

 There is no shiny altar for you here

 In this Temple of Rubble and Strangers

 No balm

 Not the kind you need

 Then Judith brought out the platter

 Adorned with Holofernes’ head

 Delilah shaved it

 Samson scalped it

 Moses garnished the tray with freshly-picked bullrushes

 As for me?

 I ordered a double

 A little later Saul ran in with the exegesis,

 changed his name to Paul

 Talitha jumped up on her hind legs

 Yelled out “Praise the Lord”

 Peter denied he knew the Boss, not once

 not twice

 but thrice

 Judas was busy counting his sheckels

 As for me?

 I ordered another double