Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ramsey Nasr

true lover

the rose the lily the dove the sun
monkey saturn the hydrogen bomb
love’s bliss encompasses a lot of things
big and tangible they fit
easy in the mitts
of all-crumbling lovers

for them it’s all:
      a. cuppa cha cuppa java
      b. ootchy-kootchy
      c. cuddly-snuggly honeybunny
      d. hi sweetie hi sugarplum

lovers trivialise the elements
a tad
stepping like armoured children
into their means of transport

sitting in their topsy-turvy choo-choo train
that’s come to a standstill
for the second time this week
because of the silly chappie underneath

full of love he too
wanted to crush language
with his hands like them
but in his own way

he took steps
exploding himself from element
to vast delaying chaos
sudden thaw and frost in one

human bliss clings to stars and pollen
no miracle too big or small

for the determined blind
monkey is rose dove sun

the true lover admits no difference
between lily and hydrogen bomb

de zuivere minnaar

de zuivere minnaar

de roos de lelie de duif de zon
de aap saturnus de waterstofbom
liefdesroes omvat allerlei zaken
groot en tastbaar passen ze
met gemak in de knuistjes
van allesverkruimende minnaars

daar is het:
      a. koffietje theetje
      b. koetsji-moetsji
      c. lepeltje-lepeltje poepjeliefje
      d. dag schattie dag beertje

minnaars kleineren de elementen
een beetje
stappen als gepantserd kind
samen het vervoer in

zitten in hun holderdebolderend treintje
dat voor de tweede keer deze week
tot stilstand komt
vanwege het gekke meneertje eronder

ook hij vol liefde
had de taal met zijn handen
willen verbrijzelen als hen
alleen op andere wijze

hij had ingegrepen
blies zichzelf van element
tot immens vertragende chaos
werd plotse dooi en ijzel ineen

mensenroes kleeft aan sterren en stuifmeel
geen wonder groot of klein genoeg

voor blinden met wilskracht
is aap roos duif zon

voor de zuivere minnaar bestaat geen verschil
tussen lelie en waterstofbom
Close

true lover

the rose the lily the dove the sun
monkey saturn the hydrogen bomb
love’s bliss encompasses a lot of things
big and tangible they fit
easy in the mitts
of all-crumbling lovers

for them it’s all:
      a. cuppa cha cuppa java
      b. ootchy-kootchy
      c. cuddly-snuggly honeybunny
      d. hi sweetie hi sugarplum

lovers trivialise the elements
a tad
stepping like armoured children
into their means of transport

sitting in their topsy-turvy choo-choo train
that’s come to a standstill
for the second time this week
because of the silly chappie underneath

full of love he too
wanted to crush language
with his hands like them
but in his own way

he took steps
exploding himself from element
to vast delaying chaos
sudden thaw and frost in one

human bliss clings to stars and pollen
no miracle too big or small

for the determined blind
monkey is rose dove sun

the true lover admits no difference
between lily and hydrogen bomb

true lover

the rose the lily the dove the sun
monkey saturn the hydrogen bomb
love’s bliss encompasses a lot of things
big and tangible they fit
easy in the mitts
of all-crumbling lovers

for them it’s all:
      a. cuppa cha cuppa java
      b. ootchy-kootchy
      c. cuddly-snuggly honeybunny
      d. hi sweetie hi sugarplum

lovers trivialise the elements
a tad
stepping like armoured children
into their means of transport

sitting in their topsy-turvy choo-choo train
that’s come to a standstill
for the second time this week
because of the silly chappie underneath

full of love he too
wanted to crush language
with his hands like them
but in his own way

he took steps
exploding himself from element
to vast delaying chaos
sudden thaw and frost in one

human bliss clings to stars and pollen
no miracle too big or small

for the determined blind
monkey is rose dove sun

the true lover admits no difference
between lily and hydrogen bomb
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère