Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Henrik Nordbrandt

IF GIACOMETTI HAD BEEN ALONG

Everything has its limit, people say.
Each day I stand at a new one
and so come to think
about infinity, this
world’s strangest word
because only language contains it
within language itself, so then
a limit is thereby set.
It is clear, though
like its background colorless
like grief
that has consumed all colors
so their absence
stands out all the clearer.
The picture can be called
The Blue Desert and placed
on the other side of itself
in the next room
so with these words meaning
becomes sand.
Has everything come along?
Like it I bring only
the contents of my pockets.
So perhaps what is missing
could be a statue
of myself.
It would be incredibly tall
and made of iron, in the second person singular.

ALS GIACOMETTI ERBIJ GEWEEST WAS

Aan alles zijn grenzen, zegt men.
Ik sta iedere dag aan een nieuwe
en kom daarmee op de gedachte
aan de oneindigheid, dit
merkwaardigste woord van de wereld
omdat alleen de taal het vat
in de taal zelf, zodat hiermee nog een grens
is neergezet.
Die is duidelijk, hoewel
als zijn achtergrond, kleurloos
als het verdriet
dat alle kleuren heeft verteerd
zodat hun afwezigheid
des te duidelijker uitkomt.
Dit schilderij kan daarom
“De blauwe woestijn” heten en een plaats
krijgen op zijn eigen achterkant
in de volgende kamer
zodat de bedoeling van deze woorden
waar wordt.
Is alles er nu?
Zoals het gaat, heb ik alleen de inhoud
van mijn zakken bij me.
Dus misschien kan wat er ontbreekt
alleen een beeld zijn
van mijzelf.
Het moet onvoorstelbaar hoog zijn
en van ijzer, in de tweede persoon enkelvoud.

GIACOMETTI HAVDE VÆRET MED

Alting har sin grænse, siger man.
Jeg står hver dag ved en ny
og kommer dermed til at tænke
på uendeligheden, dette
verdens mærkeligste ord
fordi kun sproget fatter det
i sproget selv, så nok en grænse
hermed er sat.
Den er tydelig, om end
som sin baggrund, farveløs
som sorgen
der har fortæret alle farver
så deres fravær
træder desto tydeligere frem.
Dette billede kan derfor hedde
‘Den blå ørken’ og få plads
på bagsiden af sig selv
i det næste rum
så meningen med disse ord
bliver sand.
Er alt så kommet med?
Som det går, medbringer jeg
nu kun mine lommers indhold.
Så måske kan det, der mangler
kun være en statue
af mig selv.
Den skal være ufatteligt høj
og af jern, i anden person ental.
Close

IF GIACOMETTI HAD BEEN ALONG

Everything has its limit, people say.
Each day I stand at a new one
and so come to think
about infinity, this
world’s strangest word
because only language contains it
within language itself, so then
a limit is thereby set.
It is clear, though
like its background colorless
like grief
that has consumed all colors
so their absence
stands out all the clearer.
The picture can be called
The Blue Desert and placed
on the other side of itself
in the next room
so with these words meaning
becomes sand.
Has everything come along?
Like it I bring only
the contents of my pockets.
So perhaps what is missing
could be a statue
of myself.
It would be incredibly tall
and made of iron, in the second person singular.

IF GIACOMETTI HAD BEEN ALONG

Everything has its limit, people say.
Each day I stand at a new one
and so come to think
about infinity, this
world’s strangest word
because only language contains it
within language itself, so then
a limit is thereby set.
It is clear, though
like its background colorless
like grief
that has consumed all colors
so their absence
stands out all the clearer.
The picture can be called
The Blue Desert and placed
on the other side of itself
in the next room
so with these words meaning
becomes sand.
Has everything come along?
Like it I bring only
the contents of my pockets.
So perhaps what is missing
could be a statue
of myself.
It would be incredibly tall
and made of iron, in the second person singular.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère