Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Martin Reints

Singer-songwriter

You turn on the TV without the sound
and zap until the picture coincides with the sound the neighbours have

now you know what serial they’re watching
but what use is that to you?

ten minutes before the performance the singer-songwriter comes in
with his guitar in a guitar-case and something else
but you don’t know what

outside a weary backpacker wipes the sweat from his face
and brings a bottle of water to his lips

in the Himalayas the religions wind along
crumbling mountain paths and over hanging bridges
above deep ravines

trails of cloud move across the sky

the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy make straight for each other.

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Je zet de televisie aan zonder geluid
en zapt totdat het beeld klopt met het geluid bij de buren

nu weet je naar welke serie ze zitten te kijken
maar wat heb je daaraan?

tien minuten voor het optreden komt de singer-songwriter binnen
met de gitaar in een gitaarkoffer en nog iets
maar je weet niet wat

buiten veegt een vermoeide rugzaktoerist het zweet van zijn gezicht
en zet een fles water aan zijn mond

in de Himalaya slingeren de godsdiensten langs
afbrokkelende bergpaadjes en over hangbruggen
boven diepe ravijnen

wolkenslierten trekken langs de hemel

de Melkweg en de Andromedanevel stormen op elkaar af.
Close

Singer-songwriter

You turn on the TV without the sound
and zap until the picture coincides with the sound the neighbours have

now you know what serial they’re watching
but what use is that to you?

ten minutes before the performance the singer-songwriter comes in
with his guitar in a guitar-case and something else
but you don’t know what

outside a weary backpacker wipes the sweat from his face
and brings a bottle of water to his lips

in the Himalayas the religions wind along
crumbling mountain paths and over hanging bridges
above deep ravines

trails of cloud move across the sky

the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy make straight for each other.

Singer-songwriter

You turn on the TV without the sound
and zap until the picture coincides with the sound the neighbours have

now you know what serial they’re watching
but what use is that to you?

ten minutes before the performance the singer-songwriter comes in
with his guitar in a guitar-case and something else
but you don’t know what

outside a weary backpacker wipes the sweat from his face
and brings a bottle of water to his lips

in the Himalayas the religions wind along
crumbling mountain paths and over hanging bridges
above deep ravines

trails of cloud move across the sky

the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy make straight for each other.
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