TOMAŽ ŠALAMUN

translated from the Slovenian by Brian Henry



                                     



WHERE IS NORTH, WHERE IS SOUTH




the first discovery speaks of the randomness of the world
the second discovery speaks of the precondition
the third discovery speaks of insinuating with the head
the fourth discovery speaks of a briefcase
the fifth discovery speaks of a method of distinction

I.
there are six lines on the wall
a convex edge in the corner
half a meter lower says Adelshoffen
on the left and right you can see a windowpane with iron trim that's
painted with minium

II.
all the northern countries are north of me
all the southern countries are south of me

III.
often it happens that I insinuate with my head

IV.
the first definition of a briefcase pushes the briefcase
the second definition of a briefcase pushes the briefcase
the third definition of a briefcase pushes the briefcase

V.
I produced the word petaheva
I produced the word petaheva again
as we distinguish a lizard from a lizard
so we also distinguish the first product from the second






TYPO 34