Planet Literature

Borders and border fences seem perfectly normal to us. However, if we look at them through the eyes of another species, the picture looks quite different. Then the absurdity of the national fervour with which borders are defended in the human world suddenly becomes apparent.

The Raven

From the top of a tree, a raven watched in wonder
his fellow human creatures scurrying about.
He saw them roaming every corner of their territory
without resting or taking a break.

They erected a gigantic fence,
scattered shards of glass and razor wire over it –
even though no enemy was to be seen –,
then added several grim tower eyes,

which with their frozen gaze
had to reinforce the fences‘ law
like knots in the thick net.
Amazed, the raven watched the scene unfold.

But as the fortress loomed menacingly,
he looked down at the beast from the top of his tree
as if it were a ridiculous dream
and flew over it with a scornful croak.