Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Roelof ten Napel

machine

and when I see that you find peace
without me
I will dismantle myself –
the mechanism of my departure
knows your name, knows your manner
 
and knows how gloomy you can be,
the way it comes over you,
a cut without origin on your back –
 
my hands open themselves
up, my arms
too, and I say your name as I dissolve,
my breath gets heavy, more condensation
than air – then I see how you escape
yourself, laughing, with hope
on your lips, your body
falling light

machine

machine

en als ik zie dat je rust hebt
zonder mij
dan zal ik me ontmantelen —
het mechanisme van mijn afscheid
kent je naam, kent je houdingen

en weet hoe somber je kunt zijn,
hoe dat je overkomt,
een snee zonder oorsprong op je rug —

mijn handen vouwen zich
open, mijn armen
ook, en ik noem je terwijl ik opga,
mijn ademen zwaar wordt, meer damp
dan lucht — dan zie ik nog hoe je
lachend aan jezelf ontsnapt, met hoop
op je lippen, je lichaam
vallend licht
Close

machine

and when I see that you find peace
without me
I will dismantle myself –
the mechanism of my departure
knows your name, knows your manner
 
and knows how gloomy you can be,
the way it comes over you,
a cut without origin on your back –
 
my hands open themselves
up, my arms
too, and I say your name as I dissolve,
my breath gets heavy, more condensation
than air – then I see how you escape
yourself, laughing, with hope
on your lips, your body
falling light

machine

and when I see that you find peace
without me
I will dismantle myself –
the mechanism of my departure
knows your name, knows your manner
 
and knows how gloomy you can be,
the way it comes over you,
a cut without origin on your back –
 
my hands open themselves
up, my arms
too, and I say your name as I dissolve,
my breath gets heavy, more condensation
than air – then I see how you escape
yourself, laughing, with hope
on your lips, your body
falling light
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
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