Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Rafael Alcides

EXODUS

There is the noise of airplanes and ships
setting off, and not enough
ink and paper to print all the passports,
while the speeding taxis
loaded with luggage fly by
like swallows and ducks when winter
arrives. Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

What are they fleeing?
What dreams are they safeguarding?
What roads will they find?
Will they ever return?
Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

In the houses where friends once lived
there are handkerchiefs waving goodbye, 

there are messages left with the neighbor,
the sound of a door closing
and tears, many tears
on the sidewalk.
Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

A very large silence, an immense void
hovers over the city.
Everyone is leaving.

ÉXODO

ÉXODO

Hay un ruido de aviones y barcos
que parten. Ya no alcanzan
la tinta y el papel
para imprimir los pasaportes,
y van llenos de maletas
y raudos los taxis
como las golondrinas
y los patos al llegar el invierno,
todos se están yendo, Señor. 

¿De qué huyen, de qué escapan?
¿Qué sueños protegen?
¿Qué caminos hallarán?
¿Volverán alguna vez?
Todos se están yendo, Señor. 

En las casas donde vivían los amigos
hay pañuelos diciendo adiós, 

hay recados dejados con la vecina,
el eco de una puerta que se cierra
y lágrimas, muchas lágrimas
en todas las aceras.
Todos se están yendo, Señor. 

Un silencio muy grande, un vacío inmenso
se ha cernido sobre la ciudad.
Todos se están yendo.

Close

EXODUS

There is the noise of airplanes and ships
setting off, and not enough
ink and paper to print all the passports,
while the speeding taxis
loaded with luggage fly by
like swallows and ducks when winter
arrives. Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

What are they fleeing?
What dreams are they safeguarding?
What roads will they find?
Will they ever return?
Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

In the houses where friends once lived
there are handkerchiefs waving goodbye, 

there are messages left with the neighbor,
the sound of a door closing
and tears, many tears
on the sidewalk.
Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

A very large silence, an immense void
hovers over the city.
Everyone is leaving.

EXODUS

There is the noise of airplanes and ships
setting off, and not enough
ink and paper to print all the passports,
while the speeding taxis
loaded with luggage fly by
like swallows and ducks when winter
arrives. Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

What are they fleeing?
What dreams are they safeguarding?
What roads will they find?
Will they ever return?
Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

In the houses where friends once lived
there are handkerchiefs waving goodbye, 

there are messages left with the neighbor,
the sound of a door closing
and tears, many tears
on the sidewalk.
Everyone is leaving, Lord. 

A very large silence, an immense void
hovers over the city.
Everyone is leaving.

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