Poem

Bart Meuleman

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Original language

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.
you’re there, more silent even
than the little bell-jar.
as for me, I’m facing a difficult homecoming.
I’d rather be standing beside a pond, eyes fixed on
a mirror so dark,
so happily pongy
that I will now start to laugh, loud and uncontrollable.
everything is so immediately different.
also the void, that so easily lures me to your railing.

© Translation: 2005, Willem Groenewegen

muziek van gas onhoorbaar in de keuken.

muziek van gas onhoorbaar in de keuken.
je bent er, geruislozer nog
dan de kleine stolp.
zelf zit ik in een moeilijke thuiskomst.
liever stond ik bij een vijver, de blik gericht op
een spiegel zo donker,
zo vrolijk stinkend
dat ik nu onbedaarlijk hard ga lachen.
alles is zo onmiddellijk anders.
ook het niets, dat mij zo makkelijk naar je reling lokt.

© 2004, Bart Meuleman
From: hulp
Publisher: Querido, Amsterdam

Bart Meuleman

Bart Meuleman

(Belgium, 1965)

Bart Meuleman is a playwright, writes essays on subjects such as politics and pop music and, together with illustrator Paul Verrept, writes children’s book featuring his alter ego ‘Mister Retch’ (Meneertje Kokhals). Above all, though, Meuleman is a poet. His debut kleine criminaliteit (petty crimes, 1997) already hints at the menace and ambiguity pervading his second volume hulp (help, 2004). T...

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Poems of Bart Meuleman

take a man like this one.

your flesh is ageing, how can I go on with you?

where was the aid?

what is started with the heart is easily released

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.

Close

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.
you’re there, more silent even
than the little bell-jar.
as for me, I’m facing a difficult homecoming.
I’d rather be standing beside a pond, eyes fixed on
a mirror so dark,
so happily pongy
that I will now start to laugh, loud and uncontrollable.
everything is so immediately different.
also the void, that so easily lures me to your railing.

© 2005, Willem Groenewegen
From: hulp

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.

gas music inaudible in the kitchen.
you’re there, more silent even
than the little bell-jar.
as for me, I’m facing a difficult homecoming.
I’d rather be standing beside a pond, eyes fixed on
a mirror so dark,
so happily pongy
that I will now start to laugh, loud and uncontrollable.
everything is so immediately different.
also the void, that so easily lures me to your railing.

© 2005, Willem Groenewegen

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