Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Anne Carson

TANGO VII. BUT TO HONOR TRUTH WHICH IS SMOOTH DIVINE AND LIVES AMONG THE GODS WE MUST TRUST (WITH PLATO) DANCE LYING WHICH LIVES DOWN BELOW AMID THE MASS OF MEN BOTH TRAGIC AND ROUGH

TANGO VII. HERE’S OUR CLEAN BUSINESS NOW LET’S GO DOWN THE HALL TO THE BLACK ROOM WHERE I MAKE MY REAL MONEY

Mythologie is een opgesierd patroon,
een janusbewering,
waarmee je het ene kunt zeggen en iets anders bedoelen, een dubbel leven kunt leiden.
Vandaar het idee in het vroeg-Griekse denken dat alle dichters leugenaars zijn.
En uit ware leugens der poëzie
sijpelde een vraag.

Wat verbindt eigenlijk woorden en dingen?

Niet veel, besloot mijn man
en bleef taal zo gebruiken
als Homerus het van de goden beschrijft.
De goden kennen alle mensenwoorden maar hebben er behalve de onze
een tegengestelde betekenis voor.
Goden draaien naar believen de schakelaar om.

Mijn man loog over alles.

Verdiensten, vergaderingen, vriendinnen,
de geboorteplaats van zijn ouders,
de winkel waar hij zijn overhemden kocht, het spellen van zijn eigen naam.
Hij loog als het nergens voor nodig was.
Hij loog als het hem niet eens gelegen kwam.
Hij loog als hij wist dat men wist dat hij loog.

Hij loog als hij daarmee hun hart brak.

Mijn hart. Haar hart. Ik vraag me vaak af hoe het haar is vergaan.

De eerste.

TANGO VII. BUT TO HONOR TRUTH WHICH IS SMOOTH DIVINE AND LIVES AMONG THE GODS WE MUST TRUST (WITH PLATO) DANCE LYING WHICH LIVES DOWN BELOW AMID THE MASS OF MEN BOTH TRAGIC AND ROUGH

All myth is an enriched pattern,
a two-faced proposition,
allowing its operator to say one thing and mean another, to lead a double life.
Hence the notion found early in ancient thought that all poets are liars.
And from the true lies of poetry
trickled out a question.

What really connects words and things?

Not much, decided my husband
and proceeded to use language
in the way that Homer says the gods do.
All human words are known to the gods but have for them entirely other meanings
alongside our meanings.
Gods flip the switch at will.

My husband lied about everything.

Money, meetings, mistresses,
the birthplace of his parents,
the store where he bought shirts, the spelling of his own name.
He lied when it was not necessary to lie.
He lied when it wasn’t even convenient.
He lied when he knew they knew he was lying.

He lied when it broke their hearts.

My heart. Her heart. I often wonder what happened to her.

The first one.
Close

TANGO VII. BUT TO HONOR TRUTH WHICH IS SMOOTH DIVINE AND LIVES AMONG THE GODS WE MUST TRUST (WITH PLATO) DANCE LYING WHICH LIVES DOWN BELOW AMID THE MASS OF MEN BOTH TRAGIC AND ROUGH

All myth is an enriched pattern,
a two-faced proposition,
allowing its operator to say one thing and mean another, to lead a double life.
Hence the notion found early in ancient thought that all poets are liars.
And from the true lies of poetry
trickled out a question.

What really connects words and things?

Not much, decided my husband
and proceeded to use language
in the way that Homer says the gods do.
All human words are known to the gods but have for them entirely other meanings
alongside our meanings.
Gods flip the switch at will.

My husband lied about everything.

Money, meetings, mistresses,
the birthplace of his parents,
the store where he bought shirts, the spelling of his own name.
He lied when it was not necessary to lie.
He lied when it wasn’t even convenient.
He lied when he knew they knew he was lying.

He lied when it broke their hearts.

My heart. Her heart. I often wonder what happened to her.

The first one.

TANGO VII. BUT TO HONOR TRUTH WHICH IS SMOOTH DIVINE AND LIVES AMONG THE GODS WE MUST TRUST (WITH PLATO) DANCE LYING WHICH LIVES DOWN BELOW AMID THE MASS OF MEN BOTH TRAGIC AND ROUGH

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère