Poem
Lucebert
POETRY IS CHILD’S PLAY
over the cracking eggwanders a heavenly bode
in search of his antipode
and that art thou
it is possible that one cannot think
on such a small scale it gives rise to annoyance
or one is bored thus much too safe
then one is lost to poetry
there remains only one comfort when dying
thou willest likewise not feel bored
and suddenly then can doll and ball
remembered late let you know
that this was I and that was the universe
© Translation: 2011, Diane Butterman
POËZIE IS KINDERSPEL
POËZIE IS KINDERSPEL
over het krakende eidwaalt een hemelse bode
op zoek naar zijn antipode
en dat zijt gij
mogelijk dat men op zulk een kleine schaal
niet denken kan het maakt nijdig
of men is verveeld dus veel te veilig
dan is men verloren voor de poëzie
u rest slechts één troost ligt gij op sterven
gij verveelt u dan ook niet
en plotseling kan dan pop en bal
laat herinnerd u laten weten
dit was ik en dat was het heelal
© 2002, De Bezige Bij
From: Verzamelde Gedichten
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
First published in 1959
From: Verzamelde Gedichten
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Lucebert
Close
POETRY IS CHILD’S PLAY
over the cracking eggwanders a heavenly bode
in search of his antipode
and that art thou
it is possible that one cannot think
on such a small scale it gives rise to annoyance
or one is bored thus much too safe
then one is lost to poetry
there remains only one comfort when dying
thou willest likewise not feel bored
and suddenly then can doll and ball
remembered late let you know
that this was I and that was the universe
© 2011, Diane Butterman
From: Verzamelde Gedichten
First published in 1959
From: Verzamelde Gedichten
POETRY IS CHILD’S PLAY
over the cracking eggwanders a heavenly bode
in search of his antipode
and that art thou
it is possible that one cannot think
on such a small scale it gives rise to annoyance
or one is bored thus much too safe
then one is lost to poetry
there remains only one comfort when dying
thou willest likewise not feel bored
and suddenly then can doll and ball
remembered late let you know
that this was I and that was the universe
© 2011, Diane Butterman
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