Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

David Avidan

BATTLE RATION

To drink heavy water
to breathe pure air-force air
to don a uniform and holidays
to beat the beaten
to descend to the life of descents
to rise to the easy takeoff
to lose lost losses
and to find everyone in one blow
and not to lose fluids
and not to donate money or blood
because the world is filled with crooks
and you are not on their side
but to wait for the future
with eyes wide open
now Avidan David
sentences himself to oblivion
and will recall himself anew
in another two thousand years
and arise weakly from death
with eyes sticky from sleep
and drink transparent water
and breathe in a far-off space armada
and see life beautiful and bare
lacking law and order
and then he will exchange
a few words with them in their tongue

מנת קרב

מנת קרב

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BATTLE RATION

To drink heavy water
to breathe pure air-force air
to don a uniform and holidays
to beat the beaten
to descend to the life of descents
to rise to the easy takeoff
to lose lost losses
and to find everyone in one blow
and not to lose fluids
and not to donate money or blood
because the world is filled with crooks
and you are not on their side
but to wait for the future
with eyes wide open
now Avidan David
sentences himself to oblivion
and will recall himself anew
in another two thousand years
and arise weakly from death
with eyes sticky from sleep
and drink transparent water
and breathe in a far-off space armada
and see life beautiful and bare
lacking law and order
and then he will exchange
a few words with them in their tongue

BATTLE RATION

To drink heavy water
to breathe pure air-force air
to don a uniform and holidays
to beat the beaten
to descend to the life of descents
to rise to the easy takeoff
to lose lost losses
and to find everyone in one blow
and not to lose fluids
and not to donate money or blood
because the world is filled with crooks
and you are not on their side
but to wait for the future
with eyes wide open
now Avidan David
sentences himself to oblivion
and will recall himself anew
in another two thousand years
and arise weakly from death
with eyes sticky from sleep
and drink transparent water
and breathe in a far-off space armada
and see life beautiful and bare
lacking law and order
and then he will exchange
a few words with them in their tongue
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