Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Joost Baars

theology of the chair

because the chair does not coincide with the name of the chair 

because the name of the chair calls into existence all that is not chair 

because under the name of the chair the universe in its entirety is made up of what is and isn’t chair 

because the naming of names is an act
                          sitting down for example

because sitting down reaffirms the name of the chair 
                          and consequently all that is not chair  
                          and consequently the universe under the name of the chair

because the law of the universe is endless falling

because bodies fall

because under the name of the body everything beyond the body
is called into existence

because our being is embodied

because our embodied being is the naming of a name

because nobody names his own body
                           and under the name of the body falling lies encapsulated

because every son brings forth a broken son

because language inhabits and escapes us
                           bringing forth gives its name to the endlessly falling body
  
because bringing forth encapsulates an endless falling

because the name of falling calls into existence all that is not falling

because falling does not coincide with the name of falling

because under the name of falling the universe in its entirety exists
out of what is and isn’t falling

because falling is the law of the universe

because the endless falling brings forth matter
                            chairs for example

because under the name of the chair this endless falling asks for a
name

because a name escapes you like an answer
                           when you sit down
                           when you take your son in your arms

because the broken son places a resurrected son in your mouth

hallowed be his unlawful name

THEOLOGIE VAN DE STOEL

THEOLOGIE VAN DE STOEL

omdat de stoel niet samenvalt met de naam van de stoel

omdat de naam van de stoel alles wat niet stoel is aanwezig stelt

omdat onder de naam van de stoel het universum in zijn geheel bestaat uit
wat wel en niet stoel is

omdat het noemen van namen een daad is
                           gaan zitten bijvoorbeeld

omdat gaan zitten de naam van de stoel bevestigt
                           en daarmee alles wat niet stoel is
                           en daarmee het universum onder de naam van de stoel

omdat de wet van het universum eindeloos vallen is

omdat lichamen vallen

omdat onder de naam van het lichaam alles voorbij het lichaam aanwezig
wordt gesteld

omdat ons bestaan belichaamd is

omdat ons belichaamde zijn het noemen is van een naam

omdat niemand zijn eigen lichaam benoemt
                           en onder de naam van het lichaam het vallen besloten ligt

omdat elke zoon een gebroken zoon voortbrengt

omdat taal ons bewoont en ontvalt
                           bevallen het eindeloos vallende lichaam zijn naam geeft

omdat in bevallen de naam van het vallen besloten ligt

omdat de naam van het vallen alles wat niet vallen is aanwezig stelt

omdat het vallen niet samenvalt met de naam van het vallen

omdat onder de naam van het vallen het universum in zijn geheel bestaat
uit wat wel en niet vallen is

omdat vallen de wet van het universum is

omdat het eindeloos vallen materie voortbrengt
                           stoelen bijvoorbeeld

omdat onder de naam van de stoel het eindeloos vallen vraagt om een
naam

omdat een naam je ontvalt als een antwoord
                           als je gaat zitten
                           als je je zoon in je armen neemt

omdat de gebroken zoon een verrezen zoon in je mond legt

                           heilig zij zijn onwettige naam
Close

theology of the chair

because the chair does not coincide with the name of the chair 

because the name of the chair calls into existence all that is not chair 

because under the name of the chair the universe in its entirety is made up of what is and isn’t chair 

because the naming of names is an act
                          sitting down for example

because sitting down reaffirms the name of the chair 
                          and consequently all that is not chair  
                          and consequently the universe under the name of the chair

because the law of the universe is endless falling

because bodies fall

because under the name of the body everything beyond the body
is called into existence

because our being is embodied

because our embodied being is the naming of a name

because nobody names his own body
                           and under the name of the body falling lies encapsulated

because every son brings forth a broken son

because language inhabits and escapes us
                           bringing forth gives its name to the endlessly falling body
  
because bringing forth encapsulates an endless falling

because the name of falling calls into existence all that is not falling

because falling does not coincide with the name of falling

because under the name of falling the universe in its entirety exists
out of what is and isn’t falling

because falling is the law of the universe

because the endless falling brings forth matter
                            chairs for example

because under the name of the chair this endless falling asks for a
name

because a name escapes you like an answer
                           when you sit down
                           when you take your son in your arms

because the broken son places a resurrected son in your mouth

hallowed be his unlawful name

theology of the chair

because the chair does not coincide with the name of the chair 

because the name of the chair calls into existence all that is not chair 

because under the name of the chair the universe in its entirety is made up of what is and isn’t chair 

because the naming of names is an act
                          sitting down for example

because sitting down reaffirms the name of the chair 
                          and consequently all that is not chair  
                          and consequently the universe under the name of the chair

because the law of the universe is endless falling

because bodies fall

because under the name of the body everything beyond the body
is called into existence

because our being is embodied

because our embodied being is the naming of a name

because nobody names his own body
                           and under the name of the body falling lies encapsulated

because every son brings forth a broken son

because language inhabits and escapes us
                           bringing forth gives its name to the endlessly falling body
  
because bringing forth encapsulates an endless falling

because the name of falling calls into existence all that is not falling

because falling does not coincide with the name of falling

because under the name of falling the universe in its entirety exists
out of what is and isn’t falling

because falling is the law of the universe

because the endless falling brings forth matter
                            chairs for example

because under the name of the chair this endless falling asks for a
name

because a name escapes you like an answer
                           when you sit down
                           when you take your son in your arms

because the broken son places a resurrected son in your mouth

hallowed be his unlawful name

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
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Partners
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