Poem
Roelof ten Napel
machine
and when I see that you find peacewithout 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
© Translation: 2018, Michele Hutchison
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: Hollands Diep, Amsterdam, 2018
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: Hollands Diep, Amsterdam, 2018
machine
machine
en als ik zie dat je rust hebtzonder 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
© 2018, Roelof ten Napel
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: Hollands Diep, Amsterdam
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: Hollands Diep, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Roelof ten Napel
Close
machine
and when I see that you find peacewithout 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
© 2018, Michele Hutchison
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: 2018, Hollands Diep, Amsterdam
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: 2018, Hollands Diep, Amsterdam
machine
and when I see that you find peacewithout 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
© 2018, Michele Hutchison
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: 2018, Hollands Diep, Amsterdam
From: Het woedeboek
Publisher: 2018, Hollands Diep, Amsterdam
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