Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Joke van Leeuwen

Afterword

He promised he’d come and haunt her and he came
transparent as expected and hollow.

He kept out of the way, no watch-what-you’re-doings
no is-that-a-good-ideas, he looked at her

and her thoughts and gently tucked them in
after she’d gone to bed, lisping: live your life

a lot of trouble, true, but grant yourself your years
being up to everything will grind you down.

NAWOORD

NAWOORD

Hij had beloofd te komen spoken en hij kwam
doorzichtig als verwacht en zonder buik.

Hij liep niet in de weg, geen kijk toch uit
geen zou je dat wel doen, hij zag haar aan

en dekte haar gedachten langzaam toe
toen ze in bed lag, lispelde nog: leef

het is gedoe, maar geef jezelf je jaren
van nergens moe van worden word je moe.
Close

Afterword

He promised he’d come and haunt her and he came
transparent as expected and hollow.

He kept out of the way, no watch-what-you’re-doings
no is-that-a-good-ideas, he looked at her

and her thoughts and gently tucked them in
after she’d gone to bed, lisping: live your life

a lot of trouble, true, but grant yourself your years
being up to everything will grind you down.

Afterword

He promised he’d come and haunt her and he came
transparent as expected and hollow.

He kept out of the way, no watch-what-you’re-doings
no is-that-a-good-ideas, he looked at her

and her thoughts and gently tucked them in
after she’d gone to bed, lisping: live your life

a lot of trouble, true, but grant yourself your years
being up to everything will grind you down.
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