Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ruth Lasters

Staircase

Then do it for me. Suppose there’s a blue plate
on a white table, somewhere in a house

in this town. Imagine behind each house front a
well-defined object or furniture. Suppositions are

trial desires. But know precisely where to find a
spiral staircase, so that you,

when in dismay, can steal a step or banister from it
and rebuild it slowly in your room.

Call me when it’s finished. Someone must
carry you up it, sideways.

Trap

Trap

Doe het voor mij dan. Vermoed een blauw bord
op een witte tafel, ergens in een huis in deze

stad. Veronderstel achter elke gevel een welbepaald
voorwerp, meubel. Vermoedens zijn

oefenverlangens. Maar weet waar precies een draaitrap
staat, om er

telkens bij ontreddering een trede of spijl uit te
stelen, hem in je kamer langzaam weer

op te bouwen. Bel me als hij af is. Iemand moet je erop
naar boven dragen, zijlings.
Close

Staircase

Then do it for me. Suppose there’s a blue plate
on a white table, somewhere in a house

in this town. Imagine behind each house front a
well-defined object or furniture. Suppositions are

trial desires. But know precisely where to find a
spiral staircase, so that you,

when in dismay, can steal a step or banister from it
and rebuild it slowly in your room.

Call me when it’s finished. Someone must
carry you up it, sideways.

Staircase

Then do it for me. Suppose there’s a blue plate
on a white table, somewhere in a house

in this town. Imagine behind each house front a
well-defined object or furniture. Suppositions are

trial desires. But know precisely where to find a
spiral staircase, so that you,

when in dismay, can steal a step or banister from it
and rebuild it slowly in your room.

Call me when it’s finished. Someone must
carry you up it, sideways.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère