Destiny of an Insect

by Ernesto Cardenal (Nicaragua)
translated by Margaret Randall

I was in my hammock
looking at the white wall
thinking about who knows what
and suddenly a black dot
and suddenly a brilliant salamander
coming from who knows where
ran over to it
traveled the vertical wall as if it were flat ground
erased the black dot
and disappeared.
I liked that.
It ate it like I eat
like we all eat, and how
Christ ate at joyous feasts with fishermen
and then offered himself as food.
I liked it.
In the cosmos everything is food.
And only the white wall remains.