Poem
Remco Campert
THE FIRST TIME
The first timeit was at your place we went back to
the last tram was wailing round the corner
and the neighbours’ radio played unearthly jazz
as I sat on the edge of the bed
struggling with my shoes
I felt shy:
could I do it
that first time
the first time
I sweated like an otter
my body had never moved this way before
in such a tender awkward tussle
we bit each other’s mouths
sweet blood joining
lust and love
as never later
the first time
you wanted the light out
I said let’s leave it on
in the half-dark compromise
– the light of the night-time city
falling through the window
wheedled down beside us –
I saw that your eyes saw
something I couldn’t see
fathomlessly far off
in your half-open mouth
death was jeering
The first time
after it was over
we smoked a cigarette
you’d seen them do that in the French film
I spilt ash on my chest
sniffed my finger
that feeling:
that the world lay open for you
all cities welcoming
seas navigable
mountains surmountable
nothing could stop me now
I felt like starting out right away
but first of all
the second time
© Translation: 2007, Donald Gardner
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: Arc, Todmorden, 2007
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: Arc, Todmorden, 2007
DE EERSTE KEER
DE EERSTE KEER
De eerste keerging ik met je mee naar je huis
terwijl ik op de rand van het bed
traag mijn schoenen uittrok
jankte de laatste tram door de bocht
speelde de radio van de buren onaardse jazz
was in verwarring:
zou ik mans genoeg zijn
die eerste keer
de eerste keer
zweette ik als een otter
in zo’n worsteling
onbehouwen en teder
had mijn lichaam eerder niet bewogen
beten we onze monden stuk
in het zoete bloed
vielen zoals nooit meer later
lust en liefde samen
de eerste keer
wilde jij het licht uit
ik het licht aan
in het compromis van het half-donker
– het licht van de nachtelijke stad
dat door het raam naar binnen viel
vleide zich bij ons neer –
zag ik hoe je ogen iets zagen
dat ik niet kon zien
zo bodemloos ver van mij weg
in je mond half-open
hoonde de dood
De eerste keer
rookten we een sigaret
toen het gebeurd was
dat zag je ze doen in de Franse film
ik morste as op mijn borst
snoof aan mijn geurige vinger
dat gevoel:
hoe de wereld voor je open lag
alle steden toegankelijk
zeeën bevaarbaar
bergen overwinnelijk
niets hield me meer tegen
het liefst ging ik meteen op weg
maar eerst nog
de tweede keer
© 2007, Remco Campert
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: Arc, Todmorden
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: Arc, Todmorden
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Poems
Poems of Remco Campert
Close
THE FIRST TIME
The first timeit was at your place we went back to
the last tram was wailing round the corner
and the neighbours’ radio played unearthly jazz
as I sat on the edge of the bed
struggling with my shoes
I felt shy:
could I do it
that first time
the first time
I sweated like an otter
my body had never moved this way before
in such a tender awkward tussle
we bit each other’s mouths
sweet blood joining
lust and love
as never later
the first time
you wanted the light out
I said let’s leave it on
in the half-dark compromise
– the light of the night-time city
falling through the window
wheedled down beside us –
I saw that your eyes saw
something I couldn’t see
fathomlessly far off
in your half-open mouth
death was jeering
The first time
after it was over
we smoked a cigarette
you’d seen them do that in the French film
I spilt ash on my chest
sniffed my finger
that feeling:
that the world lay open for you
all cities welcoming
seas navigable
mountains surmountable
nothing could stop me now
I felt like starting out right away
but first of all
the second time
© 2007, Donald Gardner
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc, Todmorden
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc, Todmorden
THE FIRST TIME
The first timeit was at your place we went back to
the last tram was wailing round the corner
and the neighbours’ radio played unearthly jazz
as I sat on the edge of the bed
struggling with my shoes
I felt shy:
could I do it
that first time
the first time
I sweated like an otter
my body had never moved this way before
in such a tender awkward tussle
we bit each other’s mouths
sweet blood joining
lust and love
as never later
the first time
you wanted the light out
I said let’s leave it on
in the half-dark compromise
– the light of the night-time city
falling through the window
wheedled down beside us –
I saw that your eyes saw
something I couldn’t see
fathomlessly far off
in your half-open mouth
death was jeering
The first time
after it was over
we smoked a cigarette
you’d seen them do that in the French film
I spilt ash on my chest
sniffed my finger
that feeling:
that the world lay open for you
all cities welcoming
seas navigable
mountains surmountable
nothing could stop me now
I felt like starting out right away
but first of all
the second time
© 2007, Donald Gardner
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc, Todmorden
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc, Todmorden
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