Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Linda Maria Baros

ON THE RINGROAD

Only the girls from the suburb
step out on to the big road,
I’ve already told you that,
spitting out on the walls
their long streams of sperm.
Do not pity them out of pity,
or of disgust, at home, in your garret.
You cannot see into their soul,
since they have hidden the key between their tits.

The girls from the suburb
toss clouds at each other, strap in hand.
Their smile does not open.
Like a hymen re-sealed
by the generosity of rapists.

The girls from the suburb are alive,
I’ve already told you that. Just like the earth.

OP DE RINGWEG

Alleen de buurtmeisjes
                         gaan uit op de hoofdweg,
           zoals ik je al zei,
           en spuwen lange spermamunten
                         op de muren.
Beklaag ze niet langer uit medelijden
          of afkeer, bij jou, op je mansarde.
Je kunt niet in hun ziel kijken
          want ze hebben de sleutel tussen hun billen verborgen.

De buurtmeisjes
          springen de wolken af met een krommes in de hand.
          Hun glimlach gaat niet open.
          Het is als een maagdenvlies, dichtgenaaid
                       door de edelmoed van de verkrachters.

De buurtmeisjes zijn levendig,
          zoals ik je al zei. Levendig als de aarde.

SUR LE PÉRIPHÉRIQUE

Il n’y a que les filles de quartier 
qui sortent sur la grand-route,
je te l’ai déjà dit,
crachant sur les murs
de longues monnaies de sperme.
Ne les plains plus par pitié,
par dégoût, chez toi, dans ta mansarde.
Tu ne peux pas regarder dans leur âme,
puisqu’elles ont caché la clé entre leurs miches.

Les filles de quartier
se jettent des nuages la sangle à la main.
Leur sourire ne s’ouvre pas.
Ce serait comme un hymen recousu
par la générosité des violeurs.

Les filles de quartier sont vivantes,
je te l’ai déjà dit. Tout comme la terre.
Close

ON THE RINGROAD

Only the girls from the suburb
step out on to the big road,
I’ve already told you that,
spitting out on the walls
their long streams of sperm.
Do not pity them out of pity,
or of disgust, at home, in your garret.
You cannot see into their soul,
since they have hidden the key between their tits.

The girls from the suburb
toss clouds at each other, strap in hand.
Their smile does not open.
Like a hymen re-sealed
by the generosity of rapists.

The girls from the suburb are alive,
I’ve already told you that. Just like the earth.

ON THE RINGROAD

Only the girls from the suburb
step out on to the big road,
I’ve already told you that,
spitting out on the walls
their long streams of sperm.
Do not pity them out of pity,
or of disgust, at home, in your garret.
You cannot see into their soul,
since they have hidden the key between their tits.

The girls from the suburb
toss clouds at each other, strap in hand.
Their smile does not open.
Like a hymen re-sealed
by the generosity of rapists.

The girls from the suburb are alive,
I’ve already told you that. Just like the earth.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère