Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Titos Patríkios

VERSES, 2

Verses that howl
verses that rise, as if they’re bayonets
verses that threaten the established order
and in their few feet
make or break the revolution –
useless, false, boastful
because today no verse topples regimes
no verse mobilizes the masses.
(What masses? now, between us –
who thinks of the masses?
at most a personal deliverance, if not recognition)
That’s why I no longer write
in order to offer paper guns
weapons made of babbling, hollow words.
But only to lift up a small corner of the truth
to cast a little light on our counterfeit life.
As much as I can, as long as I endure.

VERSES, 2

Close

VERSES, 2

Verses that howl
verses that rise, as if they’re bayonets
verses that threaten the established order
and in their few feet
make or break the revolution –
useless, false, boastful
because today no verse topples regimes
no verse mobilizes the masses.
(What masses? now, between us –
who thinks of the masses?
at most a personal deliverance, if not recognition)
That’s why I no longer write
in order to offer paper guns
weapons made of babbling, hollow words.
But only to lift up a small corner of the truth
to cast a little light on our counterfeit life.
As much as I can, as long as I endure.

VERSES, 2

Verses that howl
verses that rise, as if they’re bayonets
verses that threaten the established order
and in their few feet
make or break the revolution –
useless, false, boastful
because today no verse topples regimes
no verse mobilizes the masses.
(What masses? now, between us –
who thinks of the masses?
at most a personal deliverance, if not recognition)
That’s why I no longer write
in order to offer paper guns
weapons made of babbling, hollow words.
But only to lift up a small corner of the truth
to cast a little light on our counterfeit life.
As much as I can, as long as I endure.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
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