Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Alfred Schaffer

BECAUSE I AM MADE PARTLY OF ME AND PARTLY OF YOU OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND

with an eye on the time I interrupt myself.
how long will you still appreciate my patience?

because if I do this you do that
and if you do it in such and such a way you don’t let me laugh.

how do you want to allude to me in all your wisdom?
like a tree structure of countless realities
that branches into even more universes?

like a heavenly spark with multiple speeds?
a pulsing wound under an ice-cold lamp?
an obedient citizen who has nothing to complain about?

can you fill me in?
with food and drink too?

staunchly believing that I am mortal but bravo
I digress, there is
rain on its way I have to
pay a ransom, concoct air.

OMDAT IK DEELS UIT MIJ EN DEELS UIT U GESCHAPEN BEN DAN WEL ANDERSOM

OMDAT IK DEELS UIT MIJ EN DEELS UIT U GESCHAPEN BEN DAN WEL ANDERSOM

met het oog op de tijd val ik mijzelf in de rede.
hoe lang nog stelt u prijs op mijn geduld?

want als ik zus doe doet u dat
en doet u zo dan laat u mij niet lachen.

hoe wilt u mij in al uw wijsheid duiden?
als een boomstructuur van ontelbare werkelijkheden
die zich in nog meer universa vertakt?

als een hemelse vonk met meerdere snelheden?
een kloppende wond onder een ijskoude lamp?
een gehoorzame burger die niets heeft te klagen?

kunt u mij invullen?
met eten en drinken erbij?

heilig geloven dat ik stervende ben maar bravo
ik dwaal af, er is
regen op komst ik moet
losgeld betalen, lucht fabriceren.    
Close

BECAUSE I AM MADE PARTLY OF ME AND PARTLY OF YOU OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND

with an eye on the time I interrupt myself.
how long will you still appreciate my patience?

because if I do this you do that
and if you do it in such and such a way you don’t let me laugh.

how do you want to allude to me in all your wisdom?
like a tree structure of countless realities
that branches into even more universes?

like a heavenly spark with multiple speeds?
a pulsing wound under an ice-cold lamp?
an obedient citizen who has nothing to complain about?

can you fill me in?
with food and drink too?

staunchly believing that I am mortal but bravo
I digress, there is
rain on its way I have to
pay a ransom, concoct air.

BECAUSE I AM MADE PARTLY OF ME AND PARTLY OF YOU OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND

with an eye on the time I interrupt myself.
how long will you still appreciate my patience?

because if I do this you do that
and if you do it in such and such a way you don’t let me laugh.

how do you want to allude to me in all your wisdom?
like a tree structure of countless realities
that branches into even more universes?

like a heavenly spark with multiple speeds?
a pulsing wound under an ice-cold lamp?
an obedient citizen who has nothing to complain about?

can you fill me in?
with food and drink too?

staunchly believing that I am mortal but bravo
I digress, there is
rain on its way I have to
pay a ransom, concoct air.

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
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère