Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Tom Lanoye

The Absence of Hierarchies

As the hours accelerate
like propellors
and the days beat holes
like hammers,
my fear grows liveable,

my decision clear.
Let the sea go up in flames
like oil in a drum,
let all the walls tumble.
There is only one thing

I want to preserve:
the clover of your throat,
the poppy of your lips.

And from destruction this image:
the honey of your armpit, the
milk from your lap, and

the cinnamon shadow
that takes me when
I caress you.

The Absence of Hierarchies

The Absence of Hierarchies

Naarmate de uren versnellen
als propellers
en de dagen gaten slaan
als hamers,
wordt mijn angst bewoonbaar,

mijn keuze helder.
Laat de zee maar branden
als olie in een vat,
laat alle muren kantelen.
Er is maar één ding

dat ik wil bewaren:
de klaver van jouw keel,
de papaver van je lippen.

En van elke stoot dit beeld:
de honing van je oksel, de
melk uit je schoot, en

de schaduw van kaneel
die mij vangt als
ik jou streel.
Close

The Absence of Hierarchies

As the hours accelerate
like propellors
and the days beat holes
like hammers,
my fear grows liveable,

my decision clear.
Let the sea go up in flames
like oil in a drum,
let all the walls tumble.
There is only one thing

I want to preserve:
the clover of your throat,
the poppy of your lips.

And from destruction this image:
the honey of your armpit, the
milk from your lap, and

the cinnamon shadow
that takes me when
I caress you.

The Absence of Hierarchies

As the hours accelerate
like propellors
and the days beat holes
like hammers,
my fear grows liveable,

my decision clear.
Let the sea go up in flames
like oil in a drum,
let all the walls tumble.
There is only one thing

I want to preserve:
the clover of your throat,
the poppy of your lips.

And from destruction this image:
the honey of your armpit, the
milk from your lap, and

the cinnamon shadow
that takes me when
I caress you.
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