Poem
Alfred Schaffer
‘NEW YEAR’ – DAY(DREAM) # 1,354
It had cooled down.On my minuscule balcony
I didn’t stand a chance against the hubbub
so before going to sleep I cast down the anchor
from the second floor, it was fixed to the outside wall
by a heavy chain.
It disappeared into the ground with a muffled splat.
A gaggle of geese drifted around in the grass beneath my flat
like a drunkard’s prayer.
I’d bet on them being geese – cackling
white-grey splodges.
Not long after midnight half awake
and overcome by blindness
I was drawn towards the window that was now open, just caught
a glimpse of the village vanishing into the horizon.
The chain the anchor had been fixed to
swung wildly back and forth.
I closed the window as quietly as I could
not wanting to make a noise, and went
back to bed.
© Translation: 2014, Michele Hutchison
‘NIEUWJAAR’ – DAG(DROOM) # 1.354
‘NIEUWJAAR’ – DAG(DROOM) # 1.354
De lucht was afgekoeld.Vanaf mijn piepkleine balkon
had ik geen schijn van kans tegen het straatgewoel
dus wierp ik voor het slapengaan vanaf tweehoog
het anker uit dat met een zware ketting
aan de buitenmuur bevestigd zat.
Met een gesmoorde plons verdween het in de grond.
Een groepje ganzen dobberde als in een dronkenmansgebed
beneden in het gras rondom mijn flat.
Ik durf te wedden dat het ganzen waren – gakkende
witgrijze vlekjes.
Niet lang na middernacht werd ik half wakker
en door blindheid overvallen
naar het raam gezogen dat nu openstond, nog net
zag ik het schijnsel van het dorp achter de horizon verdwijnen.
De ketting waar het anker aan had vastgezeten
zwaaide driftig heen en weer.
Ik sloot het raam, zo zacht ik kon
om geen lawaai te maken, ging toen
opnieuw naar bed.
© 2014, Alfred Schaffer
From: Mens Dier Ding
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
From: Mens Dier Ding
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Alfred Schaffer
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‘NEW YEAR’ – DAY(DREAM) # 1,354
It had cooled down.On my minuscule balcony
I didn’t stand a chance against the hubbub
so before going to sleep I cast down the anchor
from the second floor, it was fixed to the outside wall
by a heavy chain.
It disappeared into the ground with a muffled splat.
A gaggle of geese drifted around in the grass beneath my flat
like a drunkard’s prayer.
I’d bet on them being geese – cackling
white-grey splodges.
Not long after midnight half awake
and overcome by blindness
I was drawn towards the window that was now open, just caught
a glimpse of the village vanishing into the horizon.
The chain the anchor had been fixed to
swung wildly back and forth.
I closed the window as quietly as I could
not wanting to make a noise, and went
back to bed.
© 2014, Michele Hutchison
From: Mens Dier Ding
From: Mens Dier Ding
‘NEW YEAR’ – DAY(DREAM) # 1,354
It had cooled down.On my minuscule balcony
I didn’t stand a chance against the hubbub
so before going to sleep I cast down the anchor
from the second floor, it was fixed to the outside wall
by a heavy chain.
It disappeared into the ground with a muffled splat.
A gaggle of geese drifted around in the grass beneath my flat
like a drunkard’s prayer.
I’d bet on them being geese – cackling
white-grey splodges.
Not long after midnight half awake
and overcome by blindness
I was drawn towards the window that was now open, just caught
a glimpse of the village vanishing into the horizon.
The chain the anchor had been fixed to
swung wildly back and forth.
I closed the window as quietly as I could
not wanting to make a noise, and went
back to bed.
© 2014, Michele Hutchison
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