Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Leonard Nolens

TRIBUTARY

She sleeps and all is still. Snow falls in the rooms
Of the house I live in with my lover.
She lies there naked, white, a breathing stone,
A large and tiresome statue I can’t help bumping into,
A harsh weight that I must carry every day,
Every night that her sleep keeps me awake.

I am alone with her. Only with her do I
Make it down the years, since her name shows me the way
And in her eyes I see my blind time reflected.
She lies there naked, white, a breathing stone
On which I have whetted my whole blunt existence
And do still, even when I sleep and call to her in dreams.

Schatplichtig

Schatplichtig

Ze slaapt en dat is stil. Dan sneeuwt het in de kamers
Van het huis waarin ik woon met mijn vriendin.
Ze ligt er naakt en wit, een ademende steen,
Een groot en lastig beeld waaraan ik mij moet stoten,
Een scherp gewicht dat ik moet dragen alle dagen,
Alle nachten dat haar slaap me uit de slaap houdt.

Ik ben met haar alleen. Alleen met haar kom ik
De jaren afgewandeld want haar naam wijst me de weg
En in haar blik zie ik mijn blinde tijd weerspiegeld.
Ze ligt er naakt en wit, een ademende steen
Waaraan ik heel mijn bot bestaan geslepen heb
En slijp, ook als ik slaap en roepend van haar droom.
Close

TRIBUTARY

She sleeps and all is still. Snow falls in the rooms
Of the house I live in with my lover.
She lies there naked, white, a breathing stone,
A large and tiresome statue I can’t help bumping into,
A harsh weight that I must carry every day,
Every night that her sleep keeps me awake.

I am alone with her. Only with her do I
Make it down the years, since her name shows me the way
And in her eyes I see my blind time reflected.
She lies there naked, white, a breathing stone
On which I have whetted my whole blunt existence
And do still, even when I sleep and call to her in dreams.

TRIBUTARY

She sleeps and all is still. Snow falls in the rooms
Of the house I live in with my lover.
She lies there naked, white, a breathing stone,
A large and tiresome statue I can’t help bumping into,
A harsh weight that I must carry every day,
Every night that her sleep keeps me awake.

I am alone with her. Only with her do I
Make it down the years, since her name shows me the way
And in her eyes I see my blind time reflected.
She lies there naked, white, a breathing stone
On which I have whetted my whole blunt existence
And do still, even when I sleep and call to her in dreams.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère