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Other vessels hold wine, other vessels hold oil
inside the hollowed-out vault circumscribed by their clay.
I, as smaller measure, and as the slimmest of all,
humbly hollow myself so that just a few tears can fill me.

Wine becomes richer, oil becomes clear, in its vessel.
What happens with tears?-They made me blind in my
        glass,
made me heavy and made my curve iridescent,
made me brittle, and left me empty at last.


Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Added: 2 Mar 2002 | Last Read: 8 Sep 2026 5:56 AM | Viewed: 4862 times

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