Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Shang Qin

Rooster

Sunday, I sit on an iron bench with a missing leg in a quiet corner
of the park to enjoy the lunch I bought at a fast-food place. As I
chew, all of a sudden it occurs to me that I have not heard a rooster
crow in a few decades.

With the bones I try to put together a bird that can summon the
sun. I can’t find the vocal cords, because they no longer need to
crow. Their work is incessant eating and they produce themselves.

          Under the artificial sunlight
             there is neither dream
             nor dawn

KIP

Zondag, ik zit op een ijzeren bank die een poot mist in een afgelegen hoekje van een park te genieten van de lunch die ik in een fastfood-restaurant heb gekocht. Al kauwend bedenk ik ineens dat ik al tientallen jaren geen haan heb gehoord.

Met de botten probeer ik een vogel samen te stellen die in staat is de zon te roepen. Ik kan de stembanden niet vinden. Want zij hoeven niet meer te kraaien. Het is hun werk om onophoudelijk te eten, en zij produceren zichzelf.

Onder het kunstmatige zonlicht
is droom
noch dageraad.

Close

Rooster

Sunday, I sit on an iron bench with a missing leg in a quiet corner
of the park to enjoy the lunch I bought at a fast-food place. As I
chew, all of a sudden it occurs to me that I have not heard a rooster
crow in a few decades.

With the bones I try to put together a bird that can summon the
sun. I can’t find the vocal cords, because they no longer need to
crow. Their work is incessant eating and they produce themselves.

          Under the artificial sunlight
             there is neither dream
             nor dawn

Rooster

Sunday, I sit on an iron bench with a missing leg in a quiet corner
of the park to enjoy the lunch I bought at a fast-food place. As I
chew, all of a sudden it occurs to me that I have not heard a rooster
crow in a few decades.

With the bones I try to put together a bird that can summon the
sun. I can’t find the vocal cords, because they no longer need to
crow. Their work is incessant eating and they produce themselves.

          Under the artificial sunlight
             there is neither dream
             nor dawn
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