Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Gerrit Kouwenaar

So It\'s a Peaceful Evening

While the last poem eats up the moment
the maker stands up drained from the table
he cleans his carving knife and looks out the window

on the flagstones the leaves breathing their last
relieved of their summer, the angel in the wind crouching
in the eternal weeds waiting for time

so it’s a peaceful evening of wars and farewells
world, truth and love comprising invulnerably
their iron letters

and now for something edible, blood pudding white bread
and then to sleep at last, black’s in style –

DUS VREDIG DE AVOND

DUS VREDIG DE AVOND

Terwijl het laatste gedicht het tijdstip verteert
staat de maker geledigd op van zijn tafel
hij reinigt zijn vleesmes en kijkt uit het raam

op de sierbestrating zieltogen de bladeren
verlost van hun zomer, de windengel hurkt
in het eeuwige onkruid en wacht tot er tijd is

dus vredig de avond vol afscheid en oorlog
wereld waarheid en liefde behelzen onkwetsbaar
hun ijzeren letters

nu nog iets eetbaars, bloedbeuling witbrood
dan eindelijk slapen, zwart is de mode –
Close

So It\'s a Peaceful Evening

While the last poem eats up the moment
the maker stands up drained from the table
he cleans his carving knife and looks out the window

on the flagstones the leaves breathing their last
relieved of their summer, the angel in the wind crouching
in the eternal weeds waiting for time

so it’s a peaceful evening of wars and farewells
world, truth and love comprising invulnerably
their iron letters

and now for something edible, blood pudding white bread
and then to sleep at last, black’s in style –

So It\'s a Peaceful Evening

While the last poem eats up the moment
the maker stands up drained from the table
he cleans his carving knife and looks out the window

on the flagstones the leaves breathing their last
relieved of their summer, the angel in the wind crouching
in the eternal weeds waiting for time

so it’s a peaceful evening of wars and farewells
world, truth and love comprising invulnerably
their iron letters

and now for something edible, blood pudding white bread
and then to sleep at last, black’s in style –
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