Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Anna Enquist

BEGINNING

There was nothing to name, time
held its tongue. A dancing foaming
above dull thuds. The dark

hollow that neither lacked nor longed
became home to a boundless
being that grew, blind,

to the beat of my heart.
It was her. Wordless and free
to receive the soothing rhythm.

She listened to the rustling throb,
and heard, tucked up against it,
the hasty tick of her beginning.

BEGIN

BEGIN

Er viel niets te noemen, tijd
hield zich stil. Het danste en bruiste
boven dof bonken. De donkere

holte zonder gebrek of verlangen
werd een huis voor een grenzeloos
wezen dat groeide, blind,

op de maat van mijn hartslag.
Zij was het. Woordeloos kon ze
het wiegende ritme ontvangen.

Ze luisterde naar dat kloppende
ruisen en hoorde daartegen
het haastige tikken van haar begin.
Close

BEGINNING

There was nothing to name, time
held its tongue. A dancing foaming
above dull thuds. The dark

hollow that neither lacked nor longed
became home to a boundless
being that grew, blind,

to the beat of my heart.
It was her. Wordless and free
to receive the soothing rhythm.

She listened to the rustling throb,
and heard, tucked up against it,
the hasty tick of her beginning.

BEGINNING

There was nothing to name, time
held its tongue. A dancing foaming
above dull thuds. The dark

hollow that neither lacked nor longed
became home to a boundless
being that grew, blind,

to the beat of my heart.
It was her. Wordless and free
to receive the soothing rhythm.

She listened to the rustling throb,
and heard, tucked up against it,
the hasty tick of her beginning.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère