Saturday stretches the walls of the everyday
It begins sluggishly, then shifts
Into the outer reality, the noise, the chatter,
The chairs of the café filling up –
The city drenches in sun and brightness.
An autumn Saturday, persimmons lingering on trees,
A hastily bought newspaper, left on the table—
The flowers of an unwanted birthday.
A week ago, everything had wings,
I was a vine climbing a tall tree
It’s been a week since I do not want to eat,
I will give my body’s crumbs to the birds
And float with the weight of miracle in my chest.

Belfjore Qose is an Albanian poet and prose writer. She’s a doctor in literary studies and teaches World Literature at the University of Tirana. She is author of “Auras of the night” (2017) and “Luminance” (2020).