Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Umberto Fiori

BEING RIGHT

When, by dint of evidence and logic
and objections and questions, you have managed
to make someone admit you’re right
and you see this person, the one that’s in the wrong,
quite speechless facing you,
deflated, as if dead,
this picture of someone absolutely lost
for words
makes you suffer so much
that – just to make him speak again a little,
just to stop being there
all by yourself –
you would like to say It doesn’t matter,
it isn’t really
all that clear-cut.

And that’s exactly when
you realise that the power of reason
has abandoned you as well.

GELIJK HEBBEN

Als je met een reeks bewijzen en argumenten
en bezwaren en vragen erin geslaagd bent
gelijk te krijgen
en je de ander, die dus ongelijk heeft,
tegenover je ziet, zwijgend,
leeggelopen, als een dode,
doet dat beeld van hem die door het woord
in de steek gelaten is
je zo lijden dat je
puur om hem weer aan de praat te krijgen,
puur om daar niet meer
alleen te zijn,
zou willen zeggen dat het niets uitmaakt,
dat de kwestie toch
niet erg helder is.

Juist op dat moment
merk je dat je taalvermogen
jou ook in de steek gelaten heeft.

AVER RAGIONE

Quando a furia di prove e di argomenti
e obiezioni e domande sei riuscito
a farti dare ragione
e l’altro, quello che ha torto,
lo vedi zitto lì davanti,
sgonfio, come morto,
questa scena di uno abbandonato
dalle parole
ti fa talmente patire
che pur di farlo ancora un po’ parlare,
pur di non essere più
lì da solo
vorresti dire che non importa,
che la cosa non è
poi tanto chiara.

Proprio allora
ti accorgi che il discorso
ha lasciato anche te.
Close

BEING RIGHT

When, by dint of evidence and logic
and objections and questions, you have managed
to make someone admit you’re right
and you see this person, the one that’s in the wrong,
quite speechless facing you,
deflated, as if dead,
this picture of someone absolutely lost
for words
makes you suffer so much
that – just to make him speak again a little,
just to stop being there
all by yourself –
you would like to say It doesn’t matter,
it isn’t really
all that clear-cut.

And that’s exactly when
you realise that the power of reason
has abandoned you as well.

BEING RIGHT

When, by dint of evidence and logic
and objections and questions, you have managed
to make someone admit you’re right
and you see this person, the one that’s in the wrong,
quite speechless facing you,
deflated, as if dead,
this picture of someone absolutely lost
for words
makes you suffer so much
that – just to make him speak again a little,
just to stop being there
all by yourself –
you would like to say It doesn’t matter,
it isn’t really
all that clear-cut.

And that’s exactly when
you realise that the power of reason
has abandoned you as well.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère