195
the physics of sorrow
the bread of sorrow
The Sorcerer
And then a sorcerer grabbed
the cap off my head, stuck his
finger straight through it and
made a hole about yea big.
I started bawling, how could
I go home with my cap torn
like that? He laughed, blew
on it, and marvel of marvels,
it was good as new. Now
that ’s one mighty powerful
sorcerer.
Come on, Grandpa, that was
a magician, I hear myself say.
Back then they were
sorcerers, my grandfather
says, later they became
magicians.
But I’m already there, twelve
years old, the year must be
1925. There’s the fiver I’m
clutching in my hand, sweaty,
I can feel its edge. For the
first time I’m alone at the
fair and with money to boot.
Step right up, ladies and
gents... See the fearsome
python, ten feet long from
head to tail, and as long
again from tail to head...
Daaang, what ’s this twenty-
foot-long snake?... Hang on
there you, where do you
think you’re going, you owe
me a fiver... Well, I only got
five and I’m not gonna waste
it on some snake...
Across the way they ’re
selling pomades, medicinal
clay, and hair dyes.
Dy y y y y y y e f o r you r
ringletsssss, brains for your
nitwitssss...
And who is that guy with