Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ellen Deckwitz

NEAR THE EDGE

But he wanted it so badly so I kissed him
and the sea foam was already fringing his ankles with lace,
the kind you use to make net curtains.

He sank below the waves. Beads of air
strung themselves together,

I stayed waiting on the beach for a long time.
My back was itching – I thought
that must be my wings coming through. 

BIJ DE RAND

BIJ DE RAND

Maar hij wilde het zo graag dus ik kuste hem
en het zeeschuim vormde al op zijn enkels kant,
het soort waarvan vitrage wordt gemaakt.

Hij zakte onder de golven. Luchtkralen
snoerden zich aan elkaar vast,

ik bleef nog heel lang wachten op het strand.
Mijn rug jeukte, ik dacht
nu komen vast mijn vleugels door.
Close

NEAR THE EDGE

But he wanted it so badly so I kissed him
and the sea foam was already fringing his ankles with lace,
the kind you use to make net curtains.

He sank below the waves. Beads of air
strung themselves together,

I stayed waiting on the beach for a long time.
My back was itching – I thought
that must be my wings coming through. 

NEAR THE EDGE

But he wanted it so badly so I kissed him
and the sea foam was already fringing his ankles with lace,
the kind you use to make net curtains.

He sank below the waves. Beads of air
strung themselves together,

I stayed waiting on the beach for a long time.
My back was itching – I thought
that must be my wings coming through. 

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Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
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Versopolis
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Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
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Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
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