When instead of swallowing a fistful
of white pills,
you decided to shower,
the palm trees
nodded in agreement,
a choir
of crickets singing
behind your swollen eyes.
Waiting for the Barbarians (1904)
Constantine P. Cavafy
Translated by Edmund Keeley
What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?
The barbarians are due here today
March Violets (1989)
Philip Kerr
Chapter 18: Detective Bernhard "Bernie" Günther
To stay alive it is first necessary to die a little.