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Poem

Valzhyna Mort

Factory of Tears

And once again according to the annual report
the highest productivity results were achieved
by the Factory of Tears.

While the Department of Transportation was breaking heels
while the Department of Heart Affairs
was beating hysterically
the Factory of Tears was working night shifts
setting new records even on holidays.

While the Food Refinery Station
was trying to digest another catastrophe
the Factory of Tears adopted a new economically advantageous
technology of recycling the wastes of past –
memories mostly.

The pictures of the employees of the year
were placed on the Wall of Tears.

I’m a recipient of workers’ comp from the heroic Factory of Tears.
I have calluses on my eyes.
I have compound fractures on my cheeks.
I receive my wages with the product I manufacture.
And I’m happy with what I have.

DE TRANENFRABRIEK

en opnieuw werden volgens de jaarrapporten
de hoogste productiecijfers gehaald
door de tranenfabriek.

terwijl het ministerie van transport zich afbeulde
terwijl het ministerie van hartsaangelegenheden
een aanval kreeg van hysterie,
werkte de tranenfabriek dag en nacht
en vestigde ze zelfs op feestdagen productierecords.

op het moment dat de centra voor voedselverwerking
de zoveelste catastrofe moesten zien te overleven,
schakelde de tranenfabriek over op een economisch
rendabel hergebruik van afval uit het verleden –
vooral persoonlijke herinneringen.

de foto’s van de arbeiders van het jaar
werden als voorbeeld aan de tranenmuur gehangen.

ik ben invalide door het werk in de heldhaftige tranenfabriek,
mijn ogen zijn dof van de staar,
mijn kaken zijn gebroken.
ik word betaald met de producten die ik maak.
en ben gelukkig met wat ik heb.

ФАБРЫКА СЛЁЗ

і зноў па выніках году
самых высокіх паказальнікаў
дасягнула фабрыка сьлёз.

пакуль міністэрства транспарту таптала абцасы,
пакуль міністэрства сардэчных справаў
білася ў гістэрыцы,
фабрыка сьлёз працавала па начах,
нават па сьвятах ставіла рэкорды вытворчасьці.

у час калі станцыя па апрацоўцы ежы
перажоўвала чарговую катастрофу,
фабрыка сьлёз перайшла на эканамічна рэнтабэльную
пераапрацоўку адыходаў мінулага –
галоўным чынам,  асабістых успамінаў.

фотаздымкі работнікаў году
ўрачыста разьмясьцілі на сьцяне плачу.

я – інвалід працы фабрыкі-героя слёз,
у мяне на вачах мазалі,
у мяне пералом шчок.
мне плацяць заробак прадукцыяй, якую я вырабляю.
і я шчасьлівая тым, што маю.
Close

Factory of Tears

And once again according to the annual report
the highest productivity results were achieved
by the Factory of Tears.

While the Department of Transportation was breaking heels
while the Department of Heart Affairs
was beating hysterically
the Factory of Tears was working night shifts
setting new records even on holidays.

While the Food Refinery Station
was trying to digest another catastrophe
the Factory of Tears adopted a new economically advantageous
technology of recycling the wastes of past –
memories mostly.

The pictures of the employees of the year
were placed on the Wall of Tears.

I’m a recipient of workers’ comp from the heroic Factory of Tears.
I have calluses on my eyes.
I have compound fractures on my cheeks.
I receive my wages with the product I manufacture.
And I’m happy with what I have.

Factory of Tears

And once again according to the annual report
the highest productivity results were achieved
by the Factory of Tears.

While the Department of Transportation was breaking heels
while the Department of Heart Affairs
was beating hysterically
the Factory of Tears was working night shifts
setting new records even on holidays.

While the Food Refinery Station
was trying to digest another catastrophe
the Factory of Tears adopted a new economically advantageous
technology of recycling the wastes of past –
memories mostly.

The pictures of the employees of the year
were placed on the Wall of Tears.

I’m a recipient of workers’ comp from the heroic Factory of Tears.
I have calluses on my eyes.
I have compound fractures on my cheeks.
I receive my wages with the product I manufacture.
And I’m happy with what I have.
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