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