Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Michèle Métail

Maze – you are here (2)

where from a train ready to depart
arrives laminar crossing stretched
over the said-town’s long course
its name, the appropriate travel term
before imagining, first scene
in between, stranger by where
in stray steps, uncertain about moving
holding back, hesitating
where one goes, where one is, defined place
decoded by a precise inventory
threshold of unknown streets utterance
litany for memory registered

Dédale – vous êtes ici (2)

Dédale – vous êtes ici (2)

où arrive d’un convoi en partance
croisements laminaires étirés
au long cours de la ville répétée
son nom, le terme propre du voyage
avant que s’imagine, premier plan
dans l’entre-deux, étranger par où
à pas perdus, indécis de s’avancer
la retenue de franchir, hésitant
où l’on va, où l’on est, le lieu défini
déchiffré à l’inventaire précis
seuil d’un énoncé inconnu de rues
litanie pour mémoire cadastrée
Close

Maze – you are here (2)

where from a train ready to depart
arrives laminar crossing stretched
over the said-town’s long course
its name, the appropriate travel term
before imagining, first scene
in between, stranger by where
in stray steps, uncertain about moving
holding back, hesitating
where one goes, where one is, defined place
decoded by a precise inventory
threshold of unknown streets utterance
litany for memory registered

Maze – you are here (2)

where from a train ready to depart
arrives laminar crossing stretched
over the said-town’s long course
its name, the appropriate travel term
before imagining, first scene
in between, stranger by where
in stray steps, uncertain about moving
holding back, hesitating
where one goes, where one is, defined place
decoded by a precise inventory
threshold of unknown streets utterance
litany for memory registered
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Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
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