Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Geert van Istendael

Scythe

Iron beats iron on an iron chair,
sharpened, hardened she comes into her own,
circle segment on edge, her true aim,
the swathe she cuts, caresses and revolves.
The whetstone impresses her: be cool, be cruel.

Sandglass and bones are strangers to her,
in dew on grass she finds her element.
See her wave, running through the meadowland.

Zeis

Zeis

IJzer slaat ijzer op een stoel van ijzer,
gehaard, gehard vindt zij haar ware aard,
cirkelsegment op snee, haar ware doel,
het zwad dat zij onthoofdde, aait en draait.
De wetsteen scherpt haar in: wees koel, wees wreed.

Het zandglas en de knekels zijn haar vreemd,
in dauw op gras vindt zij haar element.
Zie hoe zij zwaaiend door het hooiland rent.
Close

Scythe

Iron beats iron on an iron chair,
sharpened, hardened she comes into her own,
circle segment on edge, her true aim,
the swathe she cuts, caresses and revolves.
The whetstone impresses her: be cool, be cruel.

Sandglass and bones are strangers to her,
in dew on grass she finds her element.
See her wave, running through the meadowland.

Scythe

Iron beats iron on an iron chair,
sharpened, hardened she comes into her own,
circle segment on edge, her true aim,
the swathe she cuts, caresses and revolves.
The whetstone impresses her: be cool, be cruel.

Sandglass and bones are strangers to her,
in dew on grass she finds her element.
See her wave, running through the meadowland.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère