Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Charles Ducal

SET SAIL

A door creeks, a light buzzes on.
Caught out a rat flees
into the ceiling.

Awakened from the flesh
the noise of hunger rises.

Incredibly heavy the dust hangs
in the webs, incredibly
heavy the stench.

Were you here before?

Beneath the load rising
slow and greasy
the toxic stream.

Do you know the rules onboard?

An engine starts.
In the pipes the shaking begins,
the meal falls.

Calmly the ferryman marks
the backs,
checks his number.

AFVAART

AFVAART

Een deur knarst, een lamp zoemt aan.
Betrapt vlucht een rat
het plafond in.

Gewekt uit het vlees stijgt
het rumoer van de honger.

Onwerkelijk zwaar hangt het stof
in de webben, onwerkelijk
weegt de stank.

Was u hier eerder al?

Onder de lading stijgt
traag en vet
de giftige stroom.

Kent u de regels aan boord?

Een motor slaat aan.
In de buizen begint het schudden,
het meel valt.

Kalm tekent de veerman
de ruggen,
controleert zijn getal.
Close

SET SAIL

A door creeks, a light buzzes on.
Caught out a rat flees
into the ceiling.

Awakened from the flesh
the noise of hunger rises.

Incredibly heavy the dust hangs
in the webs, incredibly
heavy the stench.

Were you here before?

Beneath the load rising
slow and greasy
the toxic stream.

Do you know the rules onboard?

An engine starts.
In the pipes the shaking begins,
the meal falls.

Calmly the ferryman marks
the backs,
checks his number.

SET SAIL

A door creeks, a light buzzes on.
Caught out a rat flees
into the ceiling.

Awakened from the flesh
the noise of hunger rises.

Incredibly heavy the dust hangs
in the webs, incredibly
heavy the stench.

Were you here before?

Beneath the load rising
slow and greasy
the toxic stream.

Do you know the rules onboard?

An engine starts.
In the pipes the shaking begins,
the meal falls.

Calmly the ferryman marks
the backs,
checks his number.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère