Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Stefan Hertmans

ANGYE IN THE SALSA BAR

We’re gliding on a stream that flows
from Cádiz across the dream as far
as Puerto Rico, we come up
against the speed, the languid sleep
of algae, coral reefs and demons;

we meet each other there in knots
that unravel our bodies once again
in desire, a fraction of
a revolution, a glance that’s cast;

the maravilla and the breaking,
everything, around midnight, the super-
fluity, the privileges
we gain by dancing,
a whirling round of people
in a Gran Hotel,

something like organs in the darkness
of her hips, a small abyss,
the wave that makes feverish and
frees itself – there before

the small round table
where her hair imbibes,
in perfumed Medellin,
as if that is what we were

in the shadow red of
wings sprouting from her back,
where she is all promise
and she bleeds.

ANGYE IN DE SALSABAR

ANGYE IN DE SALSABAR

We glijden in een stroom die
van Cádiz over de droom tot
Puerto Rico reikt, we komen er
de snelheid tegen, de lome slaap
van algen, rifbouw en demonen;

we vinden er elkaar in knopen
die het lichaam weer losmaken
uit verlangen, een fractie van
een wenteling, een oogopslag;

de maravilla en de breking,
alles, net na middernacht,
de overvloed, de privileges
die we krijgen bij het dansen,
een warreling van mensen
in een Gran Hotel,

iets als organen in het donker
van haar heupen, kleine afgrond,
de golf die koortsig maakt
en zich bevrijdt – daar, voor

de kleine ronde tafel
waar het haar indrinkt,
in geurig Medellin,
alsof wij het waren

in het schaduwrood van
vleugels op haar rug,
waar ze belofte
is, en bloedt.
Close

ANGYE IN THE SALSA BAR

We’re gliding on a stream that flows
from Cádiz across the dream as far
as Puerto Rico, we come up
against the speed, the languid sleep
of algae, coral reefs and demons;

we meet each other there in knots
that unravel our bodies once again
in desire, a fraction of
a revolution, a glance that’s cast;

the maravilla and the breaking,
everything, around midnight, the super-
fluity, the privileges
we gain by dancing,
a whirling round of people
in a Gran Hotel,

something like organs in the darkness
of her hips, a small abyss,
the wave that makes feverish and
frees itself – there before

the small round table
where her hair imbibes,
in perfumed Medellin,
as if that is what we were

in the shadow red of
wings sprouting from her back,
where she is all promise
and she bleeds.

ANGYE IN THE SALSA BAR

We’re gliding on a stream that flows
from Cádiz across the dream as far
as Puerto Rico, we come up
against the speed, the languid sleep
of algae, coral reefs and demons;

we meet each other there in knots
that unravel our bodies once again
in desire, a fraction of
a revolution, a glance that’s cast;

the maravilla and the breaking,
everything, around midnight, the super-
fluity, the privileges
we gain by dancing,
a whirling round of people
in a Gran Hotel,

something like organs in the darkness
of her hips, a small abyss,
the wave that makes feverish and
frees itself – there before

the small round table
where her hair imbibes,
in perfumed Medellin,
as if that is what we were

in the shadow red of
wings sprouting from her back,
where she is all promise
and she bleeds.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère