Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Lloyd Haft

ANGLER

Where the flow is hindered,
there the gleaming fish
is seen, given,
driven to the thread I hold –

where the stone in mid-stream
rises, spatting the river’s underbelly
over into other,
into the rising over

that we only see in broken,
in bended fadings
shading into rain.
There is a flow

that rises from the river but is other,
a singing, a second line of sight.
There it is my gleaming face
is seen against the cold,

set against the hinder. Shading into mist
my break or bending thread or arm
is seen a moment,
given to behold.

HENGELAAR

HENGELAAR

Waar de stroom hinder
ontmoet – daar wordt de glimmende vis
gekeerd, gegeven,
gedreven naar mijn haak of hand.

Waar de steen halverwege de stroom
opstaat en zijn wit laat zien –
onderbuik, warm van de bedding,
die het moederwater keert, spat,

bovenlegt in breking
boven water uit –
krom, druppend: vissenrug,
regenboog verwant.

Daar is de stroom die zingt,
boven blijft stromen,
nevelachtig helder, van
ziens orde al.

Daar staan mijn ogen
in mist, tegen kou gekant,
mijn arm die daar de flits,
de vis verwacht.
Close

ANGLER

Where the flow is hindered,
there the gleaming fish
is seen, given,
driven to the thread I hold –

where the stone in mid-stream
rises, spatting the river’s underbelly
over into other,
into the rising over

that we only see in broken,
in bended fadings
shading into rain.
There is a flow

that rises from the river but is other,
a singing, a second line of sight.
There it is my gleaming face
is seen against the cold,

set against the hinder. Shading into mist
my break or bending thread or arm
is seen a moment,
given to behold.

ANGLER

Where the flow is hindered,
there the gleaming fish
is seen, given,
driven to the thread I hold –

where the stone in mid-stream
rises, spatting the river’s underbelly
over into other,
into the rising over

that we only see in broken,
in bended fadings
shading into rain.
There is a flow

that rises from the river but is other,
a singing, a second line of sight.
There it is my gleaming face
is seen against the cold,

set against the hinder. Shading into mist
my break or bending thread or arm
is seen a moment,
given to behold.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère