Report On An Angel Poem by viacheslav kupriyanov

An angel was reported at thirteen-forty hours
in a locality not normally frequented by angels;
when captured, he offered no resistance:
such apathy on the part of an angel
is considered out of the question.
The angel's wingspan measured no less than
two metres ninety-eight centimetres;
with a weight of seventy-two kilograms,
flight with such wings is, according
to the laws of aerodynamics, impossible.
The white fabric of the angel's uniform
was snythetic in origin and non-hermetic,
presenting certain objections
to the angel's residence in space.
The angel categorically refused to speak
with representatives from the humanities,
as a result of which his speech was deemed non-articulate
and unfit for the communication of the divine will.
A search of the angel failed to reveal an identity card:
in other words, he had no proof of citizenship.
In natural and artificial light
the angel failed to produce a halo;
this was apparent to the naked eye, thus casting
a shadow on the imaginings of prominent painters.
The above data having ruled out the possibility
of the angel being of any interest to science,
and his further detention being held inexpedient
for the purposes of anti-religious propaganda,
the above-mentioned was duly released, whereupon
he melted into the sky at sixteen-thirty hours.

Translated from Russian by Francis R. Jones