Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Joke van Leeuwen

Control

Someone rings the bell, says he’s an inspector
who’s come to see if everything still works
he doesn’t ask permission ’cause he wears
a uniform whose buttons weigh in too.

Under the cushions he finds some misplaced coins
under the table a child in concealment
under the sink a liquid that can kill
behind the window panes the view is still.

He draws conclusions from a diagram
he knows the codes and does it point by point
he has a handsome bag that’s made of leather
gel keeps his hair in shape, his fly is open.

BEHEERSING

BEHEERSING

Iemand belt aan en noemt zich controleur
die kijken komt of alles het nog doet
hij vraagt niet of het goed is, want hij draagt
een uniform dat meepraat uit de knopen.

Onder de kussens vindt hij losse munten
onder de tafel een verborgen kind
onder het aanrecht vloeistof die kan doden
achter de ramen staat het uitzicht stil.

Hij trekt conclusies volgens een tabel
hij kent de codes, doet het punt voor punt
hij heeft een fraaie tas van runderleer
gel houdt het haar bijeen, de gulp staat open.
Close

Control

Someone rings the bell, says he’s an inspector
who’s come to see if everything still works
he doesn’t ask permission ’cause he wears
a uniform whose buttons weigh in too.

Under the cushions he finds some misplaced coins
under the table a child in concealment
under the sink a liquid that can kill
behind the window panes the view is still.

He draws conclusions from a diagram
he knows the codes and does it point by point
he has a handsome bag that’s made of leather
gel keeps his hair in shape, his fly is open.

Control

Someone rings the bell, says he’s an inspector
who’s come to see if everything still works
he doesn’t ask permission ’cause he wears
a uniform whose buttons weigh in too.

Under the cushions he finds some misplaced coins
under the table a child in concealment
under the sink a liquid that can kill
behind the window panes the view is still.

He draws conclusions from a diagram
he knows the codes and does it point by point
he has a handsome bag that’s made of leather
gel keeps his hair in shape, his fly is open.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère