Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Wakako Kaku

Body

You’ve got a voice to sing songs
not to make speeches, right?
You’ve got ears to hear songs
not to listen to everything so you miss nothing
Your fingers are for caressing your beloved earlobes
not for pointing accusingly, right?

You’ve got limbs just to dance, don’t you?
Your hands are not for clinging to something
nor for clutching a knife
Your knees are not there for you to hug in a crouch
Your heels are not for stomping

Your skin is there to feel the breeze on your finger as it points to the sky
Your shoulders are there to catch flower petals
Your lips are for kissing
Your cheeks are there to be kissed, isn’t that right?

When each and every one of them
is used just as it is supposed to be
your body comes alive, doesn’t it?

You’ve got eyes to see the morning glow, don’t you,
however long this night might linger?

BODY

Close

Body

You’ve got a voice to sing songs
not to make speeches, right?
You’ve got ears to hear songs
not to listen to everything so you miss nothing
Your fingers are for caressing your beloved earlobes
not for pointing accusingly, right?

You’ve got limbs just to dance, don’t you?
Your hands are not for clinging to something
nor for clutching a knife
Your knees are not there for you to hug in a crouch
Your heels are not for stomping

Your skin is there to feel the breeze on your finger as it points to the sky
Your shoulders are there to catch flower petals
Your lips are for kissing
Your cheeks are there to be kissed, isn’t that right?

When each and every one of them
is used just as it is supposed to be
your body comes alive, doesn’t it?

You’ve got eyes to see the morning glow, don’t you,
however long this night might linger?

Body

You’ve got a voice to sing songs
not to make speeches, right?
You’ve got ears to hear songs
not to listen to everything so you miss nothing
Your fingers are for caressing your beloved earlobes
not for pointing accusingly, right?

You’ve got limbs just to dance, don’t you?
Your hands are not for clinging to something
nor for clutching a knife
Your knees are not there for you to hug in a crouch
Your heels are not for stomping

Your skin is there to feel the breeze on your finger as it points to the sky
Your shoulders are there to catch flower petals
Your lips are for kissing
Your cheeks are there to be kissed, isn’t that right?

When each and every one of them
is used just as it is supposed to be
your body comes alive, doesn’t it?

You’ve got eyes to see the morning glow, don’t you,
however long this night might linger?
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
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VDM
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