Requiem

  by Mimi Ferraro

Based on a story (“August 25th, 1983”) by Jorge Luis Borges


Dust eclipse, mirror double, chimera.
In the story, Jorge Luis Borges, slip knots time,
meets himself dying at the Hotel Delicias.  
it is evening.  Chaff sprays as the younger man opens the door.
Inside autumnal room, Jorge stands, faces himself at 84.
An old man lies in bed, empty pill bottle on table.   
They can’t agree who’s dreaming who; grieve time. 
The old man explains:  we are two but one interwoven in dream. 
Outside the window, moon silvers; the old man doesn’t speak again.  
The young man falls into himself, dreaming.   Exits past stairwell, 
empty lobby.  Outside, night: flowering coral tree, opuntia.  
Votive scent laces skin.  The hotel disappears behind him. 
Naked, he walks away.   Each step erases the world.