Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Max Temmerman

HE 1

He did not breathe,
his skin did that.

I entangled myself
with his laurel leaf,
heathenism.

He smelled of dried grass.
Old Testament gold
below a late summer sun.

What I thought to that? Nothing.
Six college years taught me
to be quietly self-educated.

To boil like milk in a skillet.
To yearn.

Hij 1

Hij 1

Hij haalde geen adem,
zijn huid deed dat.

Ik verslingerde mezelf
aan zijn laurierblad,
heidendom.

Hij rook naar gedroogd gras.
Oudtestamentisch goud
onder een late zomerzon.

Wat ik er bij dacht? Niets.
Zes collegejaren leerden me
stilzwijgend autodidact te worden.

Te koken als melk in een pan.
Te smachten
Close

HE 1

He did not breathe,
his skin did that.

I entangled myself
with his laurel leaf,
heathenism.

He smelled of dried grass.
Old Testament gold
below a late summer sun.

What I thought to that? Nothing.
Six college years taught me
to be quietly self-educated.

To boil like milk in a skillet.
To yearn.

HE 1

He did not breathe,
his skin did that.

I entangled myself
with his laurel leaf,
heathenism.

He smelled of dried grass.
Old Testament gold
below a late summer sun.

What I thought to that? Nothing.
Six college years taught me
to be quietly self-educated.

To boil like milk in a skillet.
To yearn.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère