Superstition

In Russia, if a person goes back
to the place that he has just left
because forgetfulness played a trick
and something was left behind,
the person must face a mirror
to avoid that same fate
in the future.
Thus, when I return from a trip
to the place where time
allowed us to draw our shadows together,
I re-discover your steps close to my steps,
and I wonder if I ever
will meet your eyes facing the mirror,
smiling at fate for allowing the reunion
of the hands that have searched for other hands
all over the world's geography
till they touch each other.

By Hugo Chaparro (trans. Mercedes Guhl)

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