Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Stefan Hertmans

THE CROSSING

It is those eyes in the shadow
That have been read to death.
Truth is a threatening word.
It is about terror in the wasteland,
A winged beast from bygone ages,
Atrocities flashing on a sinking screen.
 
You mustn’t point your finger;
It was her mother who said it.
She stuck it in her throat.
The boat tossed through a storm
That washed over the world.
 
Unintelligible her judgement,
Something that couldn’t be transcribed,
A finger in a bleeding eye,
And drifting nameless down the years.

De overtocht

De overtocht

Het zijn die ogen in de schaduw
Die dood gelezen zijn.
Waarheid is een woord met wapens.
Het gaat om angst in de woestijn,
Gevleugeld beest uit lang vervlogen eeuwen,
wreedheden flitsend op een zinkend scherm.

Je moet niet met je vinger wijzen,
Het was haar moeder die het zei.
Ze stak hem in haar keel,
De boot schokte zich door een storm
Die de wereld overspoelde.

Haar vonnis onverstaanbaar,
Iets dat zich niet liet schrijven,
Een vinger in een bloedend oog,
En naamloos door de jaren drijven.
Close

THE CROSSING

It is those eyes in the shadow
That have been read to death.
Truth is a threatening word.
It is about terror in the wasteland,
A winged beast from bygone ages,
Atrocities flashing on a sinking screen.
 
You mustn’t point your finger;
It was her mother who said it.
She stuck it in her throat.
The boat tossed through a storm
That washed over the world.
 
Unintelligible her judgement,
Something that couldn’t be transcribed,
A finger in a bleeding eye,
And drifting nameless down the years.

THE CROSSING

It is those eyes in the shadow
That have been read to death.
Truth is a threatening word.
It is about terror in the wasteland,
A winged beast from bygone ages,
Atrocities flashing on a sinking screen.
 
You mustn’t point your finger;
It was her mother who said it.
She stuck it in her throat.
The boat tossed through a storm
That washed over the world.
 
Unintelligible her judgement,
Something that couldn’t be transcribed,
A finger in a bleeding eye,
And drifting nameless down the years.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère