Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Mark Boog

OUR ABSENCE

Our absence was apparent
from the overgrown shrubs
from the grass that needed mowing,
from the birds, the clouds, the gaps.

Not speaking until it becomes
deliberate silence, a disappearance,
something that’s difficult
to resent. The overcast sky:

us. Search parties have been called off,
dogs called back, news reports
forgotten. Don’t move, that just
makes circles in the pool of silence.

Onze Afwezigheid

Onze Afwezigheid

Onze afwezigheid was verklaarbaar
uit de hoogte van de bomen,
uit het gras, dat gemaaid moest worden,
uit de vogels, de wolken, de gaten.

Zo lang niets zeggen dat het zwijgen heet,
verdwijnen wordt genoemd, dat het
nog maar moeilijk kwalijk kan
worden genomen. Het grijs van de lucht:

wij. Zoektochten werden afgeblazen,
honden teruggeroepen, nieuwberichten
vergeten. Beweeg je niet, dat geeft maar
kringen in de vijver van de stilte.
Close

OUR ABSENCE

Our absence was apparent
from the overgrown shrubs
from the grass that needed mowing,
from the birds, the clouds, the gaps.

Not speaking until it becomes
deliberate silence, a disappearance,
something that’s difficult
to resent. The overcast sky:

us. Search parties have been called off,
dogs called back, news reports
forgotten. Don’t move, that just
makes circles in the pool of silence.

OUR ABSENCE

Our absence was apparent
from the overgrown shrubs
from the grass that needed mowing,
from the birds, the clouds, the gaps.

Not speaking until it becomes
deliberate silence, a disappearance,
something that’s difficult
to resent. The overcast sky:

us. Search parties have been called off,
dogs called back, news reports
forgotten. Don’t move, that just
makes circles in the pool of silence.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
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