Yesterday I went to Tashkent State Art Museum to see the bust of the late Uzbek poet Rauf Parfi, but it was not there. An intern said he knows nothing about it. The guard at the entrance told me they might have taken it somewhere else. Here comes a short poem:
***
Where is the bust of my poet?
Last week
It was on the first floor
In the photo report
I saw it.
Did you put it
In the centennial closet?
Or did you hide it
In the women’s toilet?
Where is my poet?
If you did not blow it
Or throw it –
Show it!
Perhaps like in old times
From everywhere the government owns
Was he banished?
Or
Wanting not to be seen by hypocrites
Might it have vanished?
Where is my poet?!
If you did not blow it
Or throw it –
Show it!
