Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Antjie Krog

WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)

4.

overwhelmed by the whisper of our
capacity to grip
this kneadable earth’s mantle

can I not be not-you
you not be no-one
we not be nowhere
the unheard-of befitting word
not be unsaid by us

my heart falters – more weightless than before
yet bridgeable

there where I am other than you
I begin
it’s true

but there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilversong
a thing cast beyond all humankind

WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)

4.

oor-ruisend deur ons 
houvassende kapasiteit
op hierdie kniebare aardmantel

kan ek nie nie-jy wees nie
jy nie niemand wees nie
ons nie nêrens wees nie
die ongehoorde behorende woord
nie nie-gesê word deur ons nie

my hart haper – gewigloser as tevore
dog brugbaar

daar waar ek anders as jy is
begin ek
dis waar

maar daar waar ek jy is
jy geword het
sing ek buite myself
ligte polsslae kwiksilwersingend
iets anderkant alle mensheid gekaats
Close

WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)

4.

overwhelmed by the whisper of our
capacity to grip
this kneadable earth’s mantle

can I not be not-you
you not be no-one
we not be nowhere
the unheard-of befitting word
not be unsaid by us

my heart falters – more weightless than before
yet bridgeable

there where I am other than you
I begin
it’s true

but there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilversong
a thing cast beyond all humankind

WHERE I BECOME YOU (4.)

4.

overwhelmed by the whisper of our
capacity to grip
this kneadable earth’s mantle

can I not be not-you
you not be no-one
we not be nowhere
the unheard-of befitting word
not be unsaid by us

my heart falters – more weightless than before
yet bridgeable

there where I am other than you
I begin
it’s true

but there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilversong
a thing cast beyond all humankind
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