Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ruth Lasters

PROPOSAL

Ask. Ask me on the tank.
Atop the first Tiananmen tank
that stopped one man in his tracks.
 
Ask me atop that armoured vehicle
where the courage of mankind so touchingly
two-leggedly climbed up for everyone against tyranny titans. 

Ask for my hand with a rose in its barrel.
Yes, with a red flower sticking out of the Tiananmen tank barrel.
Then I'm sure to say yes! forever.
Yes! for both clear and cross days with some impact
on the dome.
 
But never ask me if I would ever be so heroic.
If, this evening, the cinema screen
were to unzip auditorium-wide in the middle of a war feature – 

I, too, would first cast down my eyes. Then, sneakily,
peek through a tiny gap to see if you are bravely
sabotaging train transports, only stealing a loaf of bread
for an emaciated family or not even averting your gaze 

from the kraut. Or we can choose a road movie or a romcom.
It's up to you. Otherwise, just
the ice-cream pralines.

 

AANZOEK

AANZOEK

Vraag het. Vraag het me op de tank.
Boven op de eerste Tiananmentank
die één man tot stilstand bracht.

Vraag me boven op dat pantservoertuig
waar de moed der mensheid hoogst ontroerend
tweebeens één voor allen opklom tegen tirannietitanen. 

Vraag om mijn hand met een roos in die loop.
Ja, met een rode bloem stekend uit de Tiananmentankloop.
Dan antwoord ik vast ja! voor altijd.
Ja! voor zowel heldere als boze dagen met wat inslag
op de koepel.
 
Maar vraag me nooit of ík ooit zo heroïsch zou zijn.
Ik zou – mocht het bioscoopdoek deze avond
zaalgroot openritsen midden in een oorlogsprent –

ook de ogen neerslaan eerst. Om daarna stiekem
door een heel klein kiertje toch te zien of jij heldhaftig
treintransporten saboteert, slechts een brood steelt
voor een graatmager gezin of zelfs de blik niet afwendt 

van de mof. We kunnen ook een roadmovie of een romcom kiezen.
Zeg jij het maar. En anders enkel en alleen
de ijspralines.

Close

PROPOSAL

Ask. Ask me on the tank.
Atop the first Tiananmen tank
that stopped one man in his tracks.
 
Ask me atop that armoured vehicle
where the courage of mankind so touchingly
two-leggedly climbed up for everyone against tyranny titans. 

Ask for my hand with a rose in its barrel.
Yes, with a red flower sticking out of the Tiananmen tank barrel.
Then I'm sure to say yes! forever.
Yes! for both clear and cross days with some impact
on the dome.
 
But never ask me if I would ever be so heroic.
If, this evening, the cinema screen
were to unzip auditorium-wide in the middle of a war feature – 

I, too, would first cast down my eyes. Then, sneakily,
peek through a tiny gap to see if you are bravely
sabotaging train transports, only stealing a loaf of bread
for an emaciated family or not even averting your gaze 

from the kraut. Or we can choose a road movie or a romcom.
It's up to you. Otherwise, just
the ice-cream pralines.

 

PROPOSAL

Ask. Ask me on the tank.
Atop the first Tiananmen tank
that stopped one man in his tracks.
 
Ask me atop that armoured vehicle
where the courage of mankind so touchingly
two-leggedly climbed up for everyone against tyranny titans. 

Ask for my hand with a rose in its barrel.
Yes, with a red flower sticking out of the Tiananmen tank barrel.
Then I'm sure to say yes! forever.
Yes! for both clear and cross days with some impact
on the dome.
 
But never ask me if I would ever be so heroic.
If, this evening, the cinema screen
were to unzip auditorium-wide in the middle of a war feature – 

I, too, would first cast down my eyes. Then, sneakily,
peek through a tiny gap to see if you are bravely
sabotaging train transports, only stealing a loaf of bread
for an emaciated family or not even averting your gaze 

from the kraut. Or we can choose a road movie or a romcom.
It's up to you. Otherwise, just
the ice-cream pralines.

 

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