Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

William Cliff

TALAVÉRA

Vanguelis sat in the abject posture
of a worn-out animal with his legs splayed out
(meanwhile the ship advanced glumly through the ocean
by the force of its constant motion)

Vanguelis lying with his sweaty skin
on his bed waited for me to enter his den
Homeros had sarcastically pushed me there
but I detested this mockery of the soul

Vanguelis’ skin was naked except for boxer shorts
which covered up his sexual parts
(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its motion

by its propeller attached to the end of its enhanced
hull it moved the water and steadily advanced)
I drew back to avoid seeing any more derision
of what I love also for the simple reason

that the heat was suffocating that day
and put me off sticking to other flesh
(meanwhile the ship glumly ploughed on steadily
through the enormous watery swell of sea)

I withdrew out of sight of that poor guy
who was bored to death on that huge sea
and I went back into my cabin where I was face to face
with the immensity of the solitude of that place

(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its forward motion)

TALAVÉRA

Vanguélis gaf zich bloot in de walglijke houding
van een afgemaakt beest de vier poten de lucht in
(intussen vorderde mistroostig ’t grote schip
door de kracht van zijn ononderbroken beweging)

Vanguélis die languit op zijn kooi lag te baden
in zijn zweet wachtte of ik zijn hol binnenging
Homéros had me daar sarcastisch toe gedreven
maar ik haatte die slinkse bespotting van de ziel

op een onderbroek na die zijn geslacht bedekte
lag Vanguélis te kooi poedelnaakt en voor pampus
(intussen ging het schip onverbiddelijk voort
de oceaan te klieven zonder enig respijt

met de schroef die aan ’t eind van zijn romp was bevestigd
doorwoelde het de plas en vorderde gestaag)
ik deinsde terug om niet dat waar ik zelf van houd
als een farce te zien om de eenvoudige reden

dat de hitte die dag waarlijk verstikkend was
en ’t niet aanlokkelijk maakte ander vlees te omklampen
(ondertussen ploegde ’t schip mistroostig door die plas
zeewater uitgestrekt als een immens moeras)

ik wou me niet vertonen aan die arme stakker
die zich stierlijk verveelde op de enorme zee
en sloop terug naar mijn hut waar ik werd opgewacht door
de immense eenzaamheid waarin ik toen verkeerde

(intussen ging het schip onverbiddelijk voort
de oceaan te klieven zonder enig respijt)

TALAVÉRA

Vanguélis se montrait dans la posture abjecte
d’une bête abattue aux jambes grand-ouvertes
(cependant le bateau avançait mornement
par la force de son mouvement permanent)

Vanguélis étendu avec sa peau suante
sur sa couche attendait que dans son antre j’entre
Homéros m’y avait poussé avec sarcasme
mais je détestais cette dérision de l’âme

la peau de Vanguélis était nue excepté
un caleçon couvrant sa sexualité
(cependant le bateau continuait mornement
à fendre l’océan sans perdre aucun moment

par son hélice attachée au bout de sa caisse
il remuait la flache et avançait sans cesse)
je reculai pour ne plus voir la dérision
de ce que j’aime aussi pour la simple raison

que la chaleur était ce jour-là suffocante
et dégoûtait de se coller à d’autre viande
(cependant le bateau mornement labourait
l’eau marine montrant son immense marais)

je reculai hors de la vue de ce pauvre homme
qui s’ennuyait à mort sur cette mer énorme
et je rentrai dans ma cabine où m’attendait
l’immensité de la solitude où j’étais

(cependant le bateau continuait mornement
à fendre l’océan sans perdre aucun moment)
Close

TALAVÉRA

Vanguelis sat in the abject posture
of a worn-out animal with his legs splayed out
(meanwhile the ship advanced glumly through the ocean
by the force of its constant motion)

Vanguelis lying with his sweaty skin
on his bed waited for me to enter his den
Homeros had sarcastically pushed me there
but I detested this mockery of the soul

Vanguelis’ skin was naked except for boxer shorts
which covered up his sexual parts
(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its motion

by its propeller attached to the end of its enhanced
hull it moved the water and steadily advanced)
I drew back to avoid seeing any more derision
of what I love also for the simple reason

that the heat was suffocating that day
and put me off sticking to other flesh
(meanwhile the ship glumly ploughed on steadily
through the enormous watery swell of sea)

I withdrew out of sight of that poor guy
who was bored to death on that huge sea
and I went back into my cabin where I was face to face
with the immensity of the solitude of that place

(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its forward motion)

TALAVÉRA

Vanguelis sat in the abject posture
of a worn-out animal with his legs splayed out
(meanwhile the ship advanced glumly through the ocean
by the force of its constant motion)

Vanguelis lying with his sweaty skin
on his bed waited for me to enter his den
Homeros had sarcastically pushed me there
but I detested this mockery of the soul

Vanguelis’ skin was naked except for boxer shorts
which covered up his sexual parts
(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its motion

by its propeller attached to the end of its enhanced
hull it moved the water and steadily advanced)
I drew back to avoid seeing any more derision
of what I love also for the simple reason

that the heat was suffocating that day
and put me off sticking to other flesh
(meanwhile the ship glumly ploughed on steadily
through the enormous watery swell of sea)

I withdrew out of sight of that poor guy
who was bored to death on that huge sea
and I went back into my cabin where I was face to face
with the immensity of the solitude of that place

(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its forward motion)
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
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère