The Barbarians (Round Two) It was not in vain that we awaited the barbarians, it was not in vain that we gathered in the city square. It was not in vain that our great ones put on their official robes and rehearsed their speeches for the event. It was not in vain that we smashed our temples and erected new ones to their gods; as proper we burnt our books that have nothing in them for people like that. As the prophesy foretold the barbarians came, and took the keys to the city from the king’s hand. But when they came they wore the garments of the land, and their customs were the customs of the state; and when they commanded us in our own tongue we no longer knew when the barbarians had come to us. (Translated by Vivian Eden) Orpheus Prayer Death and yet more death, sand and more sand We have stood in the square hungry to be and, like mountain shadows, covered the city with pictures of a waking sleep. Was she there or wa...