Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Andrea Raos

MUST WE DESTROY OR CREATE? YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Must we destroy or create? You, what do you think?
this very monticule of sand, the accumulation of a few days
and a little wind, our eyes have seen it, is it now
a human creature, does it come from the chance play of my intention
or from some more vast
play of chance?  You only have to look at a leaf for it to be transformed
into a leaf: you press your face against the moss
nothing happens. This sand once fixed
we call sand while without mentioning its name the ant-lion
did what it had to do, what it does constantly and what it will cease doing
one day.  Thus, as I see
debris of ineternity this ancient rock
swallows me up and hates me. Destroy, create . . . hatred
was not made for man, it is I.

MUST WE DESTROY OR CREATE? YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Dobbiamo distruggere o creare? tu che pensi?
Questo stesso monticello di sabbia, cumulo di qualche giorno
e un po’ di vento, che abbiamo guardato, è creatura
umana adesso, è caso della mia intenzione
o d’un ancor più grande
caso? Già se appunti lo sguardo su una foglia si tramuta in
foglia; premi contro il muschio il viso
e non accade nulla. Fissata allora questa sabbia
la chiamavamo sabbia mentre senza dirne il nome il fomicaleone
vi ha fatto ciò che doveva fare, che tuttora fa e che smetterà di fare
un giorno. Perciò come io vedo
l’ineternità nei suoi frantumi così l’antica roccia
mi risugge, e mi odia. Distruggere, creare . . . l’odio
non è stato per l’uomo, sono io.
Close

MUST WE DESTROY OR CREATE? YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Must we destroy or create? You, what do you think?
this very monticule of sand, the accumulation of a few days
and a little wind, our eyes have seen it, is it now
a human creature, does it come from the chance play of my intention
or from some more vast
play of chance?  You only have to look at a leaf for it to be transformed
into a leaf: you press your face against the moss
nothing happens. This sand once fixed
we call sand while without mentioning its name the ant-lion
did what it had to do, what it does constantly and what it will cease doing
one day.  Thus, as I see
debris of ineternity this ancient rock
swallows me up and hates me. Destroy, create . . . hatred
was not made for man, it is I.

MUST WE DESTROY OR CREATE? YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Must we destroy or create? You, what do you think?
this very monticule of sand, the accumulation of a few days
and a little wind, our eyes have seen it, is it now
a human creature, does it come from the chance play of my intention
or from some more vast
play of chance?  You only have to look at a leaf for it to be transformed
into a leaf: you press your face against the moss
nothing happens. This sand once fixed
we call sand while without mentioning its name the ant-lion
did what it had to do, what it does constantly and what it will cease doing
one day.  Thus, as I see
debris of ineternity this ancient rock
swallows me up and hates me. Destroy, create . . . hatred
was not made for man, it is I.
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