Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Chen Kehua

on the farce of my life

the life so studiously acted out
by every individual proves
eventually to be a farce

in this farce, tears
are bona fide eye-drops
shed for a self that doesn't exist

in dreams we watch the hidden stage
of a studious planet
waiting for the entrance of meaning

but the plot gives no clues
symbols and sublimation
the farce taking time such a limited span of time . . .

"as for me . . ."
everyone leaving their seats
is as baffled as when they came in . . .

1997

ON THE FARCE OF MY LIFE

Close

on the farce of my life

the life so studiously acted out
by every individual proves
eventually to be a farce

in this farce, tears
are bona fide eye-drops
shed for a self that doesn't exist

in dreams we watch the hidden stage
of a studious planet
waiting for the entrance of meaning

but the plot gives no clues
symbols and sublimation
the farce taking time such a limited span of time . . .

"as for me . . ."
everyone leaving their seats
is as baffled as when they came in . . .

1997

on the farce of my life

the life so studiously acted out
by every individual proves
eventually to be a farce

in this farce, tears
are bona fide eye-drops
shed for a self that doesn't exist

in dreams we watch the hidden stage
of a studious planet
waiting for the entrance of meaning

but the plot gives no clues
symbols and sublimation
the farce taking time such a limited span of time . . .

"as for me . . ."
everyone leaving their seats
is as baffled as when they came in . . .

1997
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère