Poem

Paul Bogaert

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Original language

Utter nonsense?

Utter nonsense?

Just wait until you have to live in the bad dream
in which the clock explodes.

Just wait until you have to scrape together your own term
while others bewail
inflated futilities.

Just wait until you resort to caustic substances,
have to give blind panic a place.

© Translation: 2014, Diane Butterman
From: Ons Verlangen
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Antwerp, 2013

Baarlijke nonsens?

Baarlijke nonsens?

Wacht maar tot jij in de boze droom moet wonen,
waarin de klok ontploft.

Wacht maar tot jij je eigen termijn bij elkaar zit te schrapen,
terwijl anderen opgezwollen
futiliteiten betreuren.

Wacht maar tot jij naar de bijtende middelen grijpt,
blinde paniek een plaats moet geven.

© 2013, Paul Bogaert
From: Ons Verlangen
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Antwerp

Paul Bogaert

Paul Bogaert

(Belgium, 1968)

Already in his debut collection Welcome Hygiene (1996), Paul Bogaert showed that he wouldn’t shy away from tough love. His poems are written in strong language, he doesn’t mince matters or pull any punches: ‘In this way, my love, I hope to have said: it’s going to hurt.’ A forceful tone, even when it comes to love: ‘Come over me/ Punish every muscle./ Rest, distract me.’ He was awarded the trie...

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CIRCULAR SYSTEMS

Utter nonsense?

‘EVERYONE CAN DO IT’

WELCOME HYGIENE

Thus appeared

HENCE THAT ILLUMINATION ANGLE (fragment)

CIRCULAR SYSTEMS

Just wait until your goddess Aurora

IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING

And she rubbed

Close

Utter nonsense?

Utter nonsense?

Just wait until you have to live in the bad dream
in which the clock explodes.

Just wait until you have to scrape together your own term
while others bewail
inflated futilities.

Just wait until you resort to caustic substances,
have to give blind panic a place.

© 2014, Diane Butterman
From: Ons Verlangen
Publisher: 2013, De Bezige Bij, Antwerp

Utter nonsense?

Utter nonsense?

Just wait until you have to live in the bad dream
in which the clock explodes.

Just wait until you have to scrape together your own term
while others bewail
inflated futilities.

Just wait until you resort to caustic substances,
have to give blind panic a place.

© 2014, Diane Butterman
From: Ons Verlangen
Publisher: 2013, De Bezige Bij, Antwerp

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