Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Eddy Van Vliet

Father

Father. Undress yourself. While you still may.
Show me what time has scarred
since we sat in the bath together and I proved
that waterdrops want to touch one another.

Fear not. We have similar structures.
Legs, back, nails and countless gestures.

I do not want to wait for twenty-seven more years
and see how hyperpigmentation
spreads, skin slackens and
veins burst.

Show me what is left when you no
longer make love.
Recount names of women and let us
roar and resign.

Vader

Vader

Vader. Ontkleed je. Nu het nog kan.
Toon mij wat de tijd heeft aangericht
sinds wij samen in bad zaten en ik bewees
dat waterdruppels elkaar willen raken.

Schaam je niet. Wij hebben dezelfde structuur.
De benen, de rug, de nagels en ontelbare gebaren.

Ik wil geen zevenentwintig jaar wachten
alvorens te zien hoe ouderdomsvlekken
zich verspreiden, de huid verslapt en
aderwanden het begeven.

Wijs mij wat er rest als de liefde
niet langer wordt beschreven.
Noem mij vrouwennamen en laat ons
berustend schateren.
Close

Father

Father. Undress yourself. While you still may.
Show me what time has scarred
since we sat in the bath together and I proved
that waterdrops want to touch one another.

Fear not. We have similar structures.
Legs, back, nails and countless gestures.

I do not want to wait for twenty-seven more years
and see how hyperpigmentation
spreads, skin slackens and
veins burst.

Show me what is left when you no
longer make love.
Recount names of women and let us
roar and resign.

Father

Father. Undress yourself. While you still may.
Show me what time has scarred
since we sat in the bath together and I proved
that waterdrops want to touch one another.

Fear not. We have similar structures.
Legs, back, nails and countless gestures.

I do not want to wait for twenty-seven more years
and see how hyperpigmentation
spreads, skin slackens and
veins burst.

Show me what is left when you no
longer make love.
Recount names of women and let us
roar and resign.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère