Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Borben Vladović

Ship's Chimney

In the ship’s chimney the desolate
ocean days were drying wet days
pinned down by the blade of the ship’s bow
like butterflies under the zoologist’s cork
in the sailor’s colourful diary.

The ship’s chimney is a nose
on the face of a portrayed heir to a throne
boldly riding his horse through
the turmoil of war from which
warm arms are still smoking and steaming.

The ship’s chimney whistles
passing by the homeland
like a master to a runaway dog
and with its foggy power
veils and changes the standpoint
so that everybody can fly up in the air together

Brodski dimnjak

Brodski dimnjak

U brodskome dimnjaku suše se
pusti oceanski mokri dani
pribodeni oštricom pramca
kao leptiri na plutu zoologa
u mornarev šaroliki dnevnik

Brodski dimnjak je nos
na licu portretiranoga infanta
koji gordo konjem prolazi
kroz ratni metež s kojeg se
još toplo oružje, puši i dimi

Zvižduk što ispušta brodski dimnjak
u prolazu pokraj zavičaja
kao gospodar odbjeglome psu
svojom magličastom moći
zastire, zamjenjuje očište
da se svi zajedno vinu u zrak
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Ship's Chimney

In the ship’s chimney the desolate
ocean days were drying wet days
pinned down by the blade of the ship’s bow
like butterflies under the zoologist’s cork
in the sailor’s colourful diary.

The ship’s chimney is a nose
on the face of a portrayed heir to a throne
boldly riding his horse through
the turmoil of war from which
warm arms are still smoking and steaming.

The ship’s chimney whistles
passing by the homeland
like a master to a runaway dog
and with its foggy power
veils and changes the standpoint
so that everybody can fly up in the air together

Ship's Chimney

In the ship’s chimney the desolate
ocean days were drying wet days
pinned down by the blade of the ship’s bow
like butterflies under the zoologist’s cork
in the sailor’s colourful diary.

The ship’s chimney is a nose
on the face of a portrayed heir to a throne
boldly riding his horse through
the turmoil of war from which
warm arms are still smoking and steaming.

The ship’s chimney whistles
passing by the homeland
like a master to a runaway dog
and with its foggy power
veils and changes the standpoint
so that everybody can fly up in the air together
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère