Reading at 2 a.m.

Reading at 2 a.m.

Turn the pages under Aristophanes’ watch

A welcome visitor.

His breath warms Lysistrata’s laugh.

Reading at 2 a.m.

With the light given by the olive crown

Rejoice! Mortals!

For Osiris died and was born again.

Reading at 2 a.m.

Chewing on the Shakespearean scrolls

An exquisite, wine-like taste.

Hamlet’s ghost echoes

bouncing off these marbled, haunted walls.

Reading at 2 a.m.

As Hemingway storms out of his bed

And jumps into the ocean’s embrace

Existentialism — a sweet struggle.

The fisherman chases after his own marlin.

Reading at 2 a.m.

Accompanied by Freud scribbling down notes

Consciousness and unconsciousness

Two sides of the same coin.

Forever decoding,

Lusting after a dream.

Reading at 2 a.m.

Cicada chirps between the periods and commas

. ,

Captured by Fabre’s net.

Insatiable obsession.

Reading at 2 a.m.

The air smells of sulfur

Ultramarine mixed with tears

Griet works,

Vermeer watches.

Reading at 2 a.m.

A wooden stick clenched between Beethoven’s teeth

Deadly determination.

His fingers grabbing Fate by the throat.

Reading at 2 a.m.

Like many scholars did before

Searching for meaning.