Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

John Hegley

Let us play

Let us play

Let us play

Let’s dig tunnels.
Let’s build bridges.
Let’s get close
like clouds of midges.
What was under
Mr Brunel’s hat?
His love-letters
And his sandwidges.
Let us cross that big divide.
Let us go and coincide.
And with the space between deducted,
Let us mind what’s been constructed.

You provide the motion and I’ll start the debate.
You provide the provender and I’ll supply the napkin
            and the plate.
Let’s combine this life of mine with your own
            slender fate.
Let me elaborate.
Let’s be thick as thieves can be.
Let’s thicken up the ice and then entice
            the world to skate.
You be narrow, I’ll be straight.
You be weight and I’ll be volume.
Let’s make a pair of zeros
make a bigger figure eight.
Let’s collaborate.
Close

Let us play

Let’s dig tunnels.
Let’s build bridges.
Let’s get close
like clouds of midges.
What was under
Mr Brunel’s hat?
His love-letters
And his sandwidges.
Let us cross that big divide.
Let us go and coincide.
And with the space between deducted,
Let us mind what’s been constructed.

You provide the motion and I’ll start the debate.
You provide the provender and I’ll supply the napkin
            and the plate.
Let’s combine this life of mine with your own
            slender fate.
Let me elaborate.
Let’s be thick as thieves can be.
Let’s thicken up the ice and then entice
            the world to skate.
You be narrow, I’ll be straight.
You be weight and I’ll be volume.
Let’s make a pair of zeros
make a bigger figure eight.
Let’s collaborate.

Let us play

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