SLUMROYAL – Yahya Hussein, translated from the Danish by Jordan Barger

INFECTIOUS INSANITY AMONG TODAY’S MEN AND WOMEN
SORROWFREE FARMERS ENTWINE THEMSELVES
WITH FARM CATTLE AND SERFWIVES
NEPOTISM AND INBREEDING GO HAND IN HAND
BEYOND JUST THE IMPERIAL POLICE
RECRUITING OFFICERS AND MARINE MINISTERS AND CORVETTE CAPTAINS
AND FIELD MARSHALS AND FIELD MISTRESSES
REQUISITIONED FROM THE RESERVES
MISERABLE SOULS DIG THEIR OWN GRAVES
ALL FOR A GUN SALUTE AND LULLABY
SLEEP AND HUNGER PREVAIL
THE MONARCH LOSES TRACK OF TIME
AND IS OVERRUN BY HIS OWN COURT
THE MANSIONS AND PALACES ARE PERFORATED
THE VATICAN FALTERS
THE CHINESE EMPEROR’S DAUGHTERS SMUGGLE THEIR VIRGINITY
OUT OF THE EMPEROR’S GROUNDS
ACCOMPANIED BY SILK BUTTERFLIES
THE STRONGEST TREES BREAK FREE FROM THE UNDERGROWTH
SWELLS OF CLOUDS BILLOW SKYWARD
THE SEA SWALLOWS THE CONTINENTS
WHILE BIRDS NAVIGATE THE HORIZON LINE
THE SKIFFS ARE OVERTAKEN BY A STORM
THAT FORCES THEM OFF THEIR SMUGGLING ROUTES
THE QUARTERDECKS ARE CLEARED OF SAILORS
AND LOADED WITH PIGS AND FAIR MAIDENS
THE CHILDREN OF THE NATIVES ARE CAST OUT
AND SKINNED ON THE STERN WITH THE BIRDS AND FISH
THEIR FATHERS GET THEIR HEADS CAVED IN
IF THEY ARE TOO STUPID OR TOO CLEVER
A BLOODBATH SOUNDS BEST AT SEA
HER MAJESTY COULD SHARPEN A KNIFE
AND START SOME SHIT
BREWING POISON AND TRANSMOGRIFYING A LIFE
THE MOATS ARE OVERFLOWING
WITH COLD SWEAT
PESSIMISM REIGNS FROM THE STABLES
ALL THE WAY TO THE HAY BALES
MECHANICAL WARFARE DISRUPTS FRIENDS AND FOES ALIKE
NOW JUST ABOUT ANYONE CAN GO TO WAR ON A WILD HORSE
AND DEFEAT A WHOLE REGIMENT
ALL TO BE STABBED IN THE BACK BY A CHAPLAIN
ANYONE CAN TAKE UP THE CROSS
EVEN JESUS STICKS HIMSELF UP THERE
AND PEACES OUT
ACROSS THE SKY
THE TITANIC WAS PACKED WITH REFUGEES
THE ARISTOCRATS’ CHILDREN FLOATED TOPSIDE
BUT THEIR FORTUNES SANK
THE WEARIEST WIDOWS FOUND ROOM IN THE LIFEBOATS
TRAVELLERS CHECKS AND LAND DEEDS STICKING OUT OF THEIR TITS
PROUD FRIGATES LAY SIDEWAYS ON THE WAVES
LEASE ME A CESSPOOL IN DENMARK
SINCE THAT’S WHERE YOU WANT ME TO LIVE
THE QUEEN HAS YET TO LEAVE HER OWN HEIR
SO MUCH AS A BARREL OF SAND
MERCENARIES AND DAY LABORERS CROSS THE CHANNEL
FEELINGS OF SOLIDARITY AND SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES
MASQUERADES AND TIRADES
CRYING TRAITORS
ON THE ROYAL STAGE
THIS TIME WE’LL COMPETE ON BEAUTY AND WIT
OR RAW POWER AND PERVERSITY
I SHALL OUTDO ALL MY KIND
AND FORCE
THEM TO LIVE A HUMBLE AND RELIGIOUS LIFE
I’M CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO MEN WITH BAD BREATH
THERE IS A DEVILISH AURA AROUND ME
WHIRRING AND BAROQUE IN THE BACKGROUND
WE DRANK WINE WITH THE SAME URGENCY
THAT SOBER PEOPLE DRINK WATER
UNTIL I FELT PURSUED BY MY OWN PAST
IT WON’T BE THE COMMON MAN’S CENTURY ANYWAY
SO GET OUT OF THE WAY
AND DON’T RUN OUT INTO THE FIELDS
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HARVEST