Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Rutger Kopland

CONVERSATION

She gave me a questioning look
you’re so quiet she says and what about

indeed what is it I am quiet about
and I begin to search for
an answer

I look past her face
to the wall and from the wall
to the window and from the window
to my hands in my lap
and back to her face again

she is still looking at me
I hear the silence in her room

I’d like to say I am quiet
about myself as I don’t know
who that is

GESPREK

GESPREK

Ze kijkt me vragend aan
je zwijgt zegt ze en waarover

inderdaad waarover zwijg ik
en ik begin te zoeken naar
een antwoord

ik kijk voorbij haar gezicht
naar de muur en van de muur
naar het raam en van het raam
naar mijn handen in mijn schoot
en weer terug naar haar gezicht

ze kijkt mij nog steeds aan
ik hoor de stilte in haar kamer

ik zou willen zeggen dat ik zwijg
over mijzelf want ik weet niet
wie dat is
Close

CONVERSATION

She gave me a questioning look
you’re so quiet she says and what about

indeed what is it I am quiet about
and I begin to search for
an answer

I look past her face
to the wall and from the wall
to the window and from the window
to my hands in my lap
and back to her face again

she is still looking at me
I hear the silence in her room

I’d like to say I am quiet
about myself as I don’t know
who that is

CONVERSATION

She gave me a questioning look
you’re so quiet she says and what about

indeed what is it I am quiet about
and I begin to search for
an answer

I look past her face
to the wall and from the wall
to the window and from the window
to my hands in my lap
and back to her face again

she is still looking at me
I hear the silence in her room

I’d like to say I am quiet
about myself as I don’t know
who that is
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