Who else could I be than the collector of wounds
yes, gentlemen, I came here to buy
some of your hidden wounds

no, gentlemen, the hideous scars are no more of interest to me
I now collect more sensitive wounds
secret traumas
wounds passed down to three generations
pains inherited at birth
thin cuts got at the time when your feelings took shape
anything that disappointed you at birth
now this is what interests me
the first interior drop of blood
the first words you pronounced
but which never ever healed again

Matei Visniec
translation by Anca Romete