"Friend" and "It's a Mess" are poems from Kabir, translated by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra. They appear in PEN America 11: Make Believe.

Listen to Paul Auster Read

Friend

Friend,
You had one life
And you blew it.

From sticky spunk
To human shape,
You spent ten months
In your mother’s womb,
Blocked off from the world
Into which you fell
The minute you were born.
A child once,
You’re an old man now.
What has happened has happened.
Crying won’t help
When death already
Has you by the balls.
It’s counting your breaths,
Waiting.

The world’s a gambler’s den, says Kabir.
You can’t be too careful.


It's a Mess

It’s a mess,
But you’re there
To sort it out.

Cock of the walk,
In great shape,
Keeping the best
Company:
That’s me.

Listen, says Kabir,
I have a prayer to make.
I’m handcuffed to death.
Throw me the key.