Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Dan Pagis

SUDDEN HEART

Sudden heart, tightrope walker with no rope
and no rest, how long will it be?
Down in the lighted arena the horses shake their heads
over you, their bright plumes waving goodbye.
And already the mournful tuba
and that sentimental codger, the double bass,
lament you in a syncopated rhythm.
Far down below,
to meet your fall, stretches
the drum.

But this blue void,
this free fall,
this piercing joy

SUDDEN HEART

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SUDDEN HEART

Sudden heart, tightrope walker with no rope
and no rest, how long will it be?
Down in the lighted arena the horses shake their heads
over you, their bright plumes waving goodbye.
And already the mournful tuba
and that sentimental codger, the double bass,
lament you in a syncopated rhythm.
Far down below,
to meet your fall, stretches
the drum.

But this blue void,
this free fall,
this piercing joy

SUDDEN HEART

Sudden heart, tightrope walker with no rope
and no rest, how long will it be?
Down in the lighted arena the horses shake their heads
over you, their bright plumes waving goodbye.
And already the mournful tuba
and that sentimental codger, the double bass,
lament you in a syncopated rhythm.
Far down below,
to meet your fall, stretches
the drum.

But this blue void,
this free fall,
this piercing joy
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère