Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

K. Schippers

THE GIFT

Give me what you have on you.
Neither keys nor money.
Make it something temporary.
 
The hastily scribbled phone number.
The dry-cleaned piece of paper in your coat pocket.
The button about to fall off.
 
The words you just held back from saying.
Your strength too much to open a door.
All the things you no longer need.
 
Give me the rustle of your cotton.
The wind can do without.

DE GIFT

DE GIFT

Geef mij wat je bij je hebt.
Geen sleutels of geld.
Wel wat er maar even is.
 
Het vlug gekrabbelde telefoonnummer.
Het meegestoomde papiertje in je jaszak.
De knoop op het punt van verliezen.
 
De woorden die je net niet hebt gezegd.
Je kracht te veel om een deur open te doen.
Alles waar je niets meer aan hebt.
 
Geef mij het geruis van je katoen.
De wind kan wel zonder. 
Close

THE GIFT

Give me what you have on you.
Neither keys nor money.
Make it something temporary.
 
The hastily scribbled phone number.
The dry-cleaned piece of paper in your coat pocket.
The button about to fall off.
 
The words you just held back from saying.
Your strength too much to open a door.
All the things you no longer need.
 
Give me the rustle of your cotton.
The wind can do without.

THE GIFT

Give me what you have on you.
Neither keys nor money.
Make it something temporary.
 
The hastily scribbled phone number.
The dry-cleaned piece of paper in your coat pocket.
The button about to fall off.
 
The words you just held back from saying.
Your strength too much to open a door.
All the things you no longer need.
 
Give me the rustle of your cotton.
The wind can do without.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère