Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Anna Enquist

PAVANE

Round, choral, sonata. The notes 
are bricks to build yourself a home:
the sarabande, your heartbeat, your breath.

The pavane fits like skin, the requiem
forms a harmonious carpet. No house
is sturdier, no structure of time more solid.

She too had papered her walls
with music. On the street, surrounded
by uproar and stench, was she cradled by song?

Pergolesi and Prince. Cushioned
by cobblestones she sank,
safe and warm, in her cage of sound.

PAVANE

PAVANE

Canon, sonate, koraal. Je bouwt
van geluid een vertrouwde woning;
de sarabande je hartslag, je adem.

De pavane past je als huid, het requiem
vormt een harmonisch tapijt. Geen huis
hechter, geen steviger bouwsel van tijd.

Ook zij had met muziek haar wanden
behangen. Werd ze op straat, tussen
herrie en stank, door liedjes gewiegd?

Pergolesi en Prince. Op de zachte
matras van de stenen verging ze,
veilig en warm, in een kooi van klank.
Close

PAVANE

Round, choral, sonata. The notes 
are bricks to build yourself a home:
the sarabande, your heartbeat, your breath.

The pavane fits like skin, the requiem
forms a harmonious carpet. No house
is sturdier, no structure of time more solid.

She too had papered her walls
with music. On the street, surrounded
by uproar and stench, was she cradled by song?

Pergolesi and Prince. Cushioned
by cobblestones she sank,
safe and warm, in her cage of sound.

PAVANE

Round, choral, sonata. The notes 
are bricks to build yourself a home:
the sarabande, your heartbeat, your breath.

The pavane fits like skin, the requiem
forms a harmonious carpet. No house
is sturdier, no structure of time more solid.

She too had papered her walls
with music. On the street, surrounded
by uproar and stench, was she cradled by song?

Pergolesi and Prince. Cushioned
by cobblestones she sank,
safe and warm, in her cage of sound.
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