Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Vera Pavlova

Teeth dull, veins collapsed

Teeth dull, veins collapsed,
heels worn down.
We are young as long as
our parents are young.
Dry is the riverbed where milk and honey,
white and amber, had run.
In the hospital, comb your mother’s hair,
pare the yellow nails.

Schrale huid, lekgeprikte aderen,

Schrale huid, lekgeprikte aderen,
sleetse zolen, kiezen aan gort.
Je bent jong zolang aan jouw ouderen
nog maar weinig schort.
Opgedroogd zijn de stromen van melk en honing,
de witgouden lusthof verdord.
Ga je moeder wassen, haar bed verschonen,
knip de gele kalknagels kort.

Зубы съедены, вены исколоты,
стоптаны каблуки.
Мы молоды, пока молоды
наши старики.
Высохло русло бело-розовой
молочно-кисельной реки.
В приёмном покое маму причёсывай,
жёлтые ногти стриги.
Close

Teeth dull, veins collapsed

Teeth dull, veins collapsed,
heels worn down.
We are young as long as
our parents are young.
Dry is the riverbed where milk and honey,
white and amber, had run.
In the hospital, comb your mother’s hair,
pare the yellow nails.

Teeth dull, veins collapsed

Teeth dull, veins collapsed,
heels worn down.
We are young as long as
our parents are young.
Dry is the riverbed where milk and honey,
white and amber, had run.
In the hospital, comb your mother’s hair,
pare the yellow nails.
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