Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Marjolijn van Heemstra

"Anything that matters I learned from horses"

Anything that matters I learned from horses: walking on all my legs, balancing head and
gait, man and animal two halves of a movement.

I learned to sit until I had flanks, blue as insects' wings, to be
an inverted rider, anxiety stiff in the empty saddle, me galloping beneath.

I learned how in every stable the first man, the first horse encounter one another,
kindred at a glance, rider and steed, war and ploughing within us.

In an ancient odour of pelt and leather I knew myself for the first time
loved for my species.

"Wat ertoe doet leerde ik van paarden"

"Wat ertoe doet leerde ik van paarden"

Wat ertoe doet leerde ik van paarden: op al mijn benen lopen, hoofd en
gang gelijk krijgen, mens en dier twee helften van een beweging.

Ik leerde zitten tot ik flanken had, blauw als vleugels van insecten, een
omgekeerde ruiter zijn, de angst stijf in het lege zadel, ik in rengalop eronder. 

Ik leerde hoe in elke stal de eerste mens, het eerste paard elkaar treffen,
in een oogopslag verwant, ruiter en ros, de oorlog en het ploegen in ons. 

In een oude geur van vacht en leer wist ik me voor het eerst
vanwege mijn soort geliefd.

 

Close

"Anything that matters I learned from horses"

Anything that matters I learned from horses: walking on all my legs, balancing head and
gait, man and animal two halves of a movement.

I learned to sit until I had flanks, blue as insects' wings, to be
an inverted rider, anxiety stiff in the empty saddle, me galloping beneath.

I learned how in every stable the first man, the first horse encounter one another,
kindred at a glance, rider and steed, war and ploughing within us.

In an ancient odour of pelt and leather I knew myself for the first time
loved for my species.

"Anything that matters I learned from horses"

Anything that matters I learned from horses: walking on all my legs, balancing head and
gait, man and animal two halves of a movement.

I learned to sit until I had flanks, blue as insects' wings, to be
an inverted rider, anxiety stiff in the empty saddle, me galloping beneath.

I learned how in every stable the first man, the first horse encounter one another,
kindred at a glance, rider and steed, war and ploughing within us.

In an ancient odour of pelt and leather I knew myself for the first time
loved for my species.

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