Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jan Baeke

from ‘NO OTHER WAY’, no. 10

Motionless. On the other hand
the body turned over along a line of trees
skipping thoughts, a wandering line.

The city grows smaller, needs more than little fields
wants rust and litter
and a subsiding road
between vacated chapels.

Little bright fires between the hills
as long as the sun tolerates a lack of distinction.
Children with impermeable skin colours
shout among the washing.

Perhaps a hotel bill, a napkin
branded with escape routes.
In a bright pool
almost tangible who smokes the same cigarettes.

Wintry light
and milk on the horizon
to sketch hours of thinking
by heart, after nature
summarising, rhyming, orpine, crop damage.

uit ‘WAT NIET ANDERS KON’, nr. 10

uit ‘WAT NIET ANDERS KON’, nr. 10

Roerloos. Daarentegen
vele bomen lang het lichaam omgewerkt
verspringende gedachten, een malende zin.

De stad wordt kleiner, heeft aan veldjes niet genoeg
wil roest en afval
en verzakkend wegdek
tussen verlaten kapellen.

Kleine heldere vuurtjes tussen de heuvels
zolang de zon gebrek aan onderscheid toelaat.
Kinderen in ondoordringbare huidskleuren
joelend tussen het wasgoed.

Misschien een hotelrekening, in een servet
gebrande ontsnappingsroutes.
In een heldere poel
bijna aan te raken die dezelfde sigaretten rookt.

Winterlicht
en melk aan de horizon
om uren denken
uit het hoofd, naar de natuur te schetsen
samenvattend, rijmend, hemelsleutel, veldschade.
Close

from ‘NO OTHER WAY’, no. 10

Motionless. On the other hand
the body turned over along a line of trees
skipping thoughts, a wandering line.

The city grows smaller, needs more than little fields
wants rust and litter
and a subsiding road
between vacated chapels.

Little bright fires between the hills
as long as the sun tolerates a lack of distinction.
Children with impermeable skin colours
shout among the washing.

Perhaps a hotel bill, a napkin
branded with escape routes.
In a bright pool
almost tangible who smokes the same cigarettes.

Wintry light
and milk on the horizon
to sketch hours of thinking
by heart, after nature
summarising, rhyming, orpine, crop damage.

from ‘NO OTHER WAY’, no. 10

Motionless. On the other hand
the body turned over along a line of trees
skipping thoughts, a wandering line.

The city grows smaller, needs more than little fields
wants rust and litter
and a subsiding road
between vacated chapels.

Little bright fires between the hills
as long as the sun tolerates a lack of distinction.
Children with impermeable skin colours
shout among the washing.

Perhaps a hotel bill, a napkin
branded with escape routes.
In a bright pool
almost tangible who smokes the same cigarettes.

Wintry light
and milk on the horizon
to sketch hours of thinking
by heart, after nature
summarising, rhyming, orpine, crop damage.
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
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