Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Herman De Coninck

Sleep now

“Go to sleep now,” I say
to a daughter who is already asleep
and wakes from my words.

The thunder crashes. Perhaps
I want her scared, so I can be dad.
But there’s nothing I can do except
do nothing, together with her.

It’s like words. Things happen.
Without words they would still happen.
But then without words.

\'Slaap maar,\' zeg ik

\'Slaap maar,\' zeg ik

“Slaap maar,” zeg ik
tegen een dochter die allang slaapt
en daar wakker van wordt.

Het onweert. Misschien wil ik wel
dat zij bang is, dan kan ik vader zijn.
Maar ik kan niets anders dan samen met haar
niets kunnen.

Zoals woorden. De dingen gebeuren.
Zonder woorden zouden ze ook gebeuren.
Maar dan zonder woorden.
Close

Sleep now

“Go to sleep now,” I say
to a daughter who is already asleep
and wakes from my words.

The thunder crashes. Perhaps
I want her scared, so I can be dad.
But there’s nothing I can do except
do nothing, together with her.

It’s like words. Things happen.
Without words they would still happen.
But then without words.

Sleep now

“Go to sleep now,” I say
to a daughter who is already asleep
and wakes from my words.

The thunder crashes. Perhaps
I want her scared, so I can be dad.
But there’s nothing I can do except
do nothing, together with her.

It’s like words. Things happen.
Without words they would still happen.
But then without words.
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