After Song Dong's Parapavillion (Intelligence from Poor People) at La Biennale di Venezia


The Cupboard

Too precious to be disposed,
not important for display anymore,
these trophies admit defeat:
a glory expired,
but at least they sit proud
in storage.

The sculpted glass bottle is what
lives on like a spirit
after its body;
the perfume has died.

Baby rompers permanently new in plastic
because motherhood cannot be forgotten
even if a broken promise is all it remains.
In these wooden squares
live clever objects where secrets retreat
to their nondescript shell.

The cupboard protects
these disappointments,
some secrets,
yourself
from vain visitors already distracted by
their reflections
in its front door mirror.