Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Roelof ten Napel

fury

my blood is upon me, thus saith the lord,
it is crying up from the earth, and
a darkness comes over my eyes –
am I my own keeper?
 
who has seen my unformed beginning,
kneaded me from breath and soil, who
made my tongue? did he not foresee
the boy’s chest it would taste?
 
my body attests to an ancient
furious fire that licks at me and
burns from me, though nothing is consumed –
 
and in there somewhere a heat resides
that desires me, that I desire, that
engulfs me and my wonderful, fearful thirst

woede

woede

mijn bloed is op mij, zo spreekt de heere,
het roept uit de aarde omhoog, en
een donker slaat over mijn ogen —
ben ik mijn eigen hoeder?

wie heeft mijn ongevormd begin gezien,
kneedde mij uit adem en grond, wie
maakte mijn tong? voorzag hij niet
de jongensborst waarvan die proeven zou?

mijn lichaam getuigt van een oeroud
woedend vuur, dat aan mij likt,
en van mij brandt, hoewel er niks verteert —

en daarin ergens leeft een hitte
die mij begeert, die ik begeer, waarin ik
opga, met ontzagwekkende dorst
Close

fury

my blood is upon me, thus saith the lord,
it is crying up from the earth, and
a darkness comes over my eyes –
am I my own keeper?
 
who has seen my unformed beginning,
kneaded me from breath and soil, who
made my tongue? did he not foresee
the boy’s chest it would taste?
 
my body attests to an ancient
furious fire that licks at me and
burns from me, though nothing is consumed –
 
and in there somewhere a heat resides
that desires me, that I desire, that
engulfs me and my wonderful, fearful thirst

fury

my blood is upon me, thus saith the lord,
it is crying up from the earth, and
a darkness comes over my eyes –
am I my own keeper?
 
who has seen my unformed beginning,
kneaded me from breath and soil, who
made my tongue? did he not foresee
the boy’s chest it would taste?
 
my body attests to an ancient
furious fire that licks at me and
burns from me, though nothing is consumed –
 
and in there somewhere a heat resides
that desires me, that I desire, that
engulfs me and my wonderful, fearful thirst
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