Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Raúl Henao

THE DOUBLE

There is a card player seated
on the edge of my bed



Until I decide to open the window



With the cold night air first his hat disappears,
part of his coat, his striped shirt, his shoes...



In this state of undress he chooses to depart
angrily down the staircase



Below I can hear the latchkey being turned
in the old lock of the building



The dog barks momentarily, a sound like a car
pulling up and the door closes with a bang



At that moment I remember having seen the card
player on previous occasion



And pausing only to adjust my dressing gown
I rush down the stairs



The street door is slightly ajar and opposite
a car waits in the darkness



Pressing my face to the window
I see myself in the back seat of the taxi
as it sets off on its unknown journey.


Translated by Philip West

EL DOBLE

EL DOBLE

Hay un jugador de cartas sentado
al borde de mi lecho



Hasta que se me ocurre abrir la ventana



Con el aire frío de la noche desaparece
primero su sombrero, parte de su abrigo,
la camisa a rayas, los zapatos...



Completamente descamisado opta por retirarse
descendiendo furioso la escalera



Abajo todavía escucho el llavín dando vueltas
en la vieja cerradura del edificio



El perro ladra por un momento, un auto
parece detenerse y la puerta se cierra
con un golpe seco



Es en ese instante que recuerdo haber visto
al jugador de cartas en una ocasión anterior



Y apenas ajustando mi bata de noche desciendo
precipitadamente la escalera



La puerta de la calle permanece ligeramente
entornada y frente a ella el auto espera
en la oscuridad



Cuando asomo el rostro a la ventanilla
me veo en el asiento trasero del taxi
que emprende su desconocida carrera.
Close

THE DOUBLE

There is a card player seated
on the edge of my bed



Until I decide to open the window



With the cold night air first his hat disappears,
part of his coat, his striped shirt, his shoes...



In this state of undress he chooses to depart
angrily down the staircase



Below I can hear the latchkey being turned
in the old lock of the building



The dog barks momentarily, a sound like a car
pulling up and the door closes with a bang



At that moment I remember having seen the card
player on previous occasion



And pausing only to adjust my dressing gown
I rush down the stairs



The street door is slightly ajar and opposite
a car waits in the darkness



Pressing my face to the window
I see myself in the back seat of the taxi
as it sets off on its unknown journey.


Translated by Philip West

THE DOUBLE

There is a card player seated
on the edge of my bed



Until I decide to open the window



With the cold night air first his hat disappears,
part of his coat, his striped shirt, his shoes...



In this state of undress he chooses to depart
angrily down the staircase



Below I can hear the latchkey being turned
in the old lock of the building



The dog barks momentarily, a sound like a car
pulling up and the door closes with a bang



At that moment I remember having seen the card
player on previous occasion



And pausing only to adjust my dressing gown
I rush down the stairs



The street door is slightly ajar and opposite
a car waits in the darkness



Pressing my face to the window
I see myself in the back seat of the taxi
as it sets off on its unknown journey.


Translated by Philip West
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
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Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
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