Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Kira Wuck

Nocturnal Animals

I ironed out the creases in my legs
lived with you
like a heartbeat

if we didn’t set the bar too high
we were reasonably happy
we ate carrots every other day to stay healthy
compensating for the lack of daylight

when everyone was asleep you got out Dostoyevsky and whisky

at night in a tiny bathroom we developed photos
on our knees, as though saying a prayer
the images gave you exactly enough distance
to be able to care for people

Nachtdieren

Nachtdieren

Ik streek de plooitjes op mijn benen glad
woonde bij je in
als een hartslag

als we de lat niet te hoog legden
waren we best gelukkig
aten om de dag wortels om gezond te blijven
zo compenseerden we het gebrek aan daglicht

als iedereen sliep haalde je Dostojevski en whisky tevoorschijn

’s nachts ontwikkelden we op onze knieën foto’s
in een kleine badkamer, alsof we een gebed opzeiden
de beelden gaven je precies genoeg afstand
om van mensen te houden
Close

Nocturnal Animals

I ironed out the creases in my legs
lived with you
like a heartbeat

if we didn’t set the bar too high
we were reasonably happy
we ate carrots every other day to stay healthy
compensating for the lack of daylight

when everyone was asleep you got out Dostoyevsky and whisky

at night in a tiny bathroom we developed photos
on our knees, as though saying a prayer
the images gave you exactly enough distance
to be able to care for people

Nocturnal Animals

I ironed out the creases in my legs
lived with you
like a heartbeat

if we didn’t set the bar too high
we were reasonably happy
we ate carrots every other day to stay healthy
compensating for the lack of daylight

when everyone was asleep you got out Dostoyevsky and whisky

at night in a tiny bathroom we developed photos
on our knees, as though saying a prayer
the images gave you exactly enough distance
to be able to care for people
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