Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Amichai Chasson

Self-portrait

A five-year-old boy alone in the water
not far from the shore. His parents call out his first
name, then his surname.

He doesn’t answer.
Lowering his gaze from horizon to water
he expects to see his reflection, beholds instead
the sea floor, shells and seaweed, soda bottles
swept along, and feels tiny fish nipping at his feet, one spirit
for all.

דְּיוֹקָן עַצְמִי

דְּיוֹקָן עַצְמִי

יֶלֶד בֶּן חָמֵשׁ עוֹמֵד לְבַד בַּמַּיִם,
לֹא רָחוֹק מֵהַחוֹף. הוֹרָיו קוֹרְאִים בִּשְׁמוֹ
הַפְּרָטִי, אַחַר כָּךְ בְּשֵׁם מִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ.

הוּא אֵינוֹ עוֹנֶה.
הוּא מוֹרִיד אֶת מַבָּטוֹ מֵהָאֹפֶק אֶל הַמַּיִם
מְצַפֶּה לִרְאוֹת בָּבוּאָתוֹ מִשְׁתַּקֶּפֶת, רוֹאֶה
קַרְקָעִית יָם, רוֹאֶה צְדָפוֹת וְאַצּוֹת, בַּקְבּוּקֵי מַשְׁקָאוֹת
נִסְחָפִים, מַרְגִּישׁ דְּגִיגִים קְטַנִּים נוֹגְסִים בְּרַגְלָיו וְרוּחַ
אֶחָד לַכֹּל.
Close

Self-portrait

A five-year-old boy alone in the water
not far from the shore. His parents call out his first
name, then his surname.

He doesn’t answer.
Lowering his gaze from horizon to water
he expects to see his reflection, beholds instead
the sea floor, shells and seaweed, soda bottles
swept along, and feels tiny fish nipping at his feet, one spirit
for all.

Self-portrait

A five-year-old boy alone in the water
not far from the shore. His parents call out his first
name, then his surname.

He doesn’t answer.
Lowering his gaze from horizon to water
he expects to see his reflection, beholds instead
the sea floor, shells and seaweed, soda bottles
swept along, and feels tiny fish nipping at his feet, one spirit
for all.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère