Poem
Sargon Boulus
A MAN FELL ON HIS KNEES
A man fell to his kneesIn the midst of a square
— Was he too tired
To stand
— Had he reached the line
Where the waves of spent lives break
— Had he been hit with hammers of grief
By whirlwinds of pain
— Was it an adversity not to be borne
— Was it the angel of death
With his scythe when it was time to go
— Was it Satan or God
Suddenly, in the midst of a square
A man fell to his knees like a horse
the knees cut off with a scythe.
© Translation: 2007, Kees Nijland
Publisher: Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam, 2007
Publisher: Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam, 2007
DE VAL
Midden op het pleinviel een man op zijn knieën
− Was hij te moe
om te staan?
− Was hij aan de grens gekomen,
waar golven breken?
− Had verdriet hem neergeslagen?
of een pijnaanval?
− Of een slag die geen mens doorstaat.
− Of de doodsengel
met zijn zeis toen de tijd daar was.
− Of God of Satan.
Midden op het plein
viel plotseling een man als een paard
met afgemaaide knieën.
© Vertaling: 2007, Kees Nijland
![](/media/4/10599_org_a_man_fell_on_hi.jpg)
© 2007, Sargon Boulus
Publisher: First published on PIW, Rotterdam
Publisher: First published on PIW, Rotterdam
Poems
Poems of Sargon Boulus
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A MAN FELL ON HIS KNEES
A man fell to his kneesIn the midst of a square
— Was he too tired
To stand
— Had he reached the line
Where the waves of spent lives break
— Had he been hit with hammers of grief
By whirlwinds of pain
— Was it an adversity not to be borne
— Was it the angel of death
With his scythe when it was time to go
— Was it Satan or God
Suddenly, in the midst of a square
A man fell to his knees like a horse
the knees cut off with a scythe.
© 2007, Kees Nijland
Publisher: 2007, Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam
Publisher: 2007, Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam
A MAN FELL ON HIS KNEES
A man fell to his kneesIn the midst of a square
— Was he too tired
To stand
— Had he reached the line
Where the waves of spent lives break
— Had he been hit with hammers of grief
By whirlwinds of pain
— Was it an adversity not to be borne
— Was it the angel of death
With his scythe when it was time to go
— Was it Satan or God
Suddenly, in the midst of a square
A man fell to his knees like a horse
the knees cut off with a scythe.
© 2007, Kees Nijland
Publisher: 2007, Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam
Publisher: 2007, Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam
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