Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Sasja Janssen

LEAF-DISEASED,

the wind forced me to the right, my better side,
that was where it was, there where the hogweed sucked me
into the deep sea, I knew everything
what we, animals, things are made of
the blue of the sky that becomes demented in darkness
why dust is not dust
where everything comes from and disappears to
why the day is killing me, me as the first person
who knows everything without volume without depth just
the way everything is so that I can do this. 

I waited in the green light.
No one questioned my knowledge, I trembled when I realized.

BLADZIEK,

BLADZIEK,

de wind dwong me naar rechts, mijn betere kant
daar was het, daar waar de berenklauw me diepzee
zoog, ik wist alles
waar wij, de dieren, de dingen van zijn gemaakt
het blauw van de lucht dat dementeert in donkerte
waarom stof geen stof is
waar alles uit komt en in verdwijnt
waarom de dag mij ombrengt, ik als eerste mens
alles weet zonder omvang zonder diepte enkel
zoals alles is waartoe ik dit kan.

Ik wachtte in het groene licht.
Niemand ondervroeg mijn kennis, ik trilde om mijn besef.

Close

LEAF-DISEASED,

the wind forced me to the right, my better side,
that was where it was, there where the hogweed sucked me
into the deep sea, I knew everything
what we, animals, things are made of
the blue of the sky that becomes demented in darkness
why dust is not dust
where everything comes from and disappears to
why the day is killing me, me as the first person
who knows everything without volume without depth just
the way everything is so that I can do this. 

I waited in the green light.
No one questioned my knowledge, I trembled when I realized.

LEAF-DISEASED,

the wind forced me to the right, my better side,
that was where it was, there where the hogweed sucked me
into the deep sea, I knew everything
what we, animals, things are made of
the blue of the sky that becomes demented in darkness
why dust is not dust
where everything comes from and disappears to
why the day is killing me, me as the first person
who knows everything without volume without depth just
the way everything is so that I can do this. 

I waited in the green light.
No one questioned my knowledge, I trembled when I realized.

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