Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Gerrit Kouwenaar

illegible

Stasis teems, white, why, in what depth
must one see this to ground oneself, dig



to be here and now, future that wanted flesh
and erred, dug-upshovel



sickle and stonesquare practically rooted, echo
chewed over by teeth that always, no words



other than this the intended, gadfly spring sedge
bloodpeach chokepear nightinggales, perfect



on this paper that’s now getting rained on, now
blowing dry again, date, rest illegible –

onleesbaar

onleesbaar

Het wemelt stilstand, wit waarom, hoe diep
moet men dit zien om zich te aarden delven



om hier te zijn en nu, toekomst die vlees wilde
en zich vergiste, opgedolven spade



sikkel en steenhak haast geworteld, echo
herkauwd door tanden die altijd, geen woorden



dan dit beoogde, blindaas voorjaarszegge
bloedperzik worgpeer nachtegalen, volmaakt



op dit papier dat nu verregent, nu
alweer droog waait, datum , rest onleesbaar -
Close

illegible

Stasis teems, white, why, in what depth
must one see this to ground oneself, dig



to be here and now, future that wanted flesh
and erred, dug-upshovel



sickle and stonesquare practically rooted, echo
chewed over by teeth that always, no words



other than this the intended, gadfly spring sedge
bloodpeach chokepear nightinggales, perfect



on this paper that’s now getting rained on, now
blowing dry again, date, rest illegible –

illegible

Stasis teems, white, why, in what depth
must one see this to ground oneself, dig



to be here and now, future that wanted flesh
and erred, dug-upshovel



sickle and stonesquare practically rooted, echo
chewed over by teeth that always, no words



other than this the intended, gadfly spring sedge
bloodpeach chokepear nightinggales, perfect



on this paper that’s now getting rained on, now
blowing dry again, date, rest illegible –
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