Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Peter Verhelst

UTOPIA’S CADAVER

Carried into the room by six men.

Laid out on a concrete slab with drainage grooves.

Photographed from all sides.

Dozens of years later still appearing on T-shirts

with those open eyes, surprised smile, beard and hair

like smudged soot, bare-chested, leaning on his elbows, head back, clenched fists, religious,
luminous – after the execution the hands were detached at the wrists and taken for
Davididentification.
Point out the bullet holes – push your fingertip into the wound.
Draw a blood smile on the mouth.
Sop your finger in the wound to finally feel the comfort of belief.

HET LIJK VAN DE UTOPIE

HET LIJK VAN DE UTOPIE

Door zes mannen de kamer binnengedragen.

Op een betonnen tafel gelegd met afvoergeultjes.

Uit alle hoeken gefotografeerd.

Tientallen jaren later nog op t-shirts

met die open ogen, verbaasde glimlach, baard en haren

als roetvegen, bloot bovenlijf, steunend op de ellebogen, hoofd achterover, gebalde vuisten,
religieus, lichtgevend – na de executie werden de handen van de polsen gescheiden en voor
identificatie meegenomen.
Wijs de kogelgaten aan – duw de vingertop in de wonde.
Teken met het bloed een glimlach om de mond.
Sop met je middelvinger in de wonde om eindelijk te voelen hoe lekker het is te geloven.


Close

UTOPIA’S CADAVER

Carried into the room by six men.

Laid out on a concrete slab with drainage grooves.

Photographed from all sides.

Dozens of years later still appearing on T-shirts

with those open eyes, surprised smile, beard and hair

like smudged soot, bare-chested, leaning on his elbows, head back, clenched fists, religious,
luminous – after the execution the hands were detached at the wrists and taken for
Davididentification.
Point out the bullet holes – push your fingertip into the wound.
Draw a blood smile on the mouth.
Sop your finger in the wound to finally feel the comfort of belief.

UTOPIA’S CADAVER

Carried into the room by six men.

Laid out on a concrete slab with drainage grooves.

Photographed from all sides.

Dozens of years later still appearing on T-shirts

with those open eyes, surprised smile, beard and hair

like smudged soot, bare-chested, leaning on his elbows, head back, clenched fists, religious,
luminous – after the execution the hands were detached at the wrists and taken for
Davididentification.
Point out the bullet holes – push your fingertip into the wound.
Draw a blood smile on the mouth.
Sop your finger in the wound to finally feel the comfort of belief.

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère