Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Michèle Métail

Maze – you are here (7)

at the pedestal of lustre, bronze
and pediments, headline
the commemoration page, oppressing
maze of scrambled memories
bits without words, no sign
stumbling over images, history
in its monuments too shiny
for the ordinary, when lit
crude light blinding
domes and cupolas pressed
against one eyed walls, resists
brutal a scar, impacts
incrustation fossils, rock
with abandoned constructions
alignment brought with observable
colums, bodies of shells
improbability to testify
here the circle of recorded facts
grave wars, unnecessarily
triumphs and falls alternating
until the return to leave again, revived
turn of spiral, stubborn
to rethink, frozen photos of the place
confusedly glimpsed, illusory
obsession to know with time
when past stands up, the ambushed
resurfacing keeping track of dates

Dédale – vous êtes ici (7)

Dédale – vous êtes ici (7)

au piédestal des patines, bronze
et les frontons, grand titre, page
des commémorations, oppressant
lacis de souvenirs embrouillés
bribes sans paroles, aucun signe
on achoppe aux images, l’histoire
dans ces monuments trop voyants
pour l’ordinaire, quand s’éclaire
lumière crue, elle aveugle alors
des domes et coupoles arc-boutés
contre les murs borgnes, résiste
brutale d’une cicatrice, impacts
incrustations fossiles, pierre
aux constructions abandonnées
alignement frappé des colonnes
observables, corps des carcasses
l’invraisemblable de témoigner
ici le cercle des faits consignés
graves des guerres, inutilement
triomphes et déclins alternant
jusqu’au retour de repartir, tour
ravivé de la spirale, entêtement
à repenser, photos figées du lieu
entrevu confusément, illusoire
obsession de connaître au temps
quand se dresse passé, l’embusqué
la remontée à la traque des dates
Close

Maze – you are here (7)

at the pedestal of lustre, bronze
and pediments, headline
the commemoration page, oppressing
maze of scrambled memories
bits without words, no sign
stumbling over images, history
in its monuments too shiny
for the ordinary, when lit
crude light blinding
domes and cupolas pressed
against one eyed walls, resists
brutal a scar, impacts
incrustation fossils, rock
with abandoned constructions
alignment brought with observable
colums, bodies of shells
improbability to testify
here the circle of recorded facts
grave wars, unnecessarily
triumphs and falls alternating
until the return to leave again, revived
turn of spiral, stubborn
to rethink, frozen photos of the place
confusedly glimpsed, illusory
obsession to know with time
when past stands up, the ambushed
resurfacing keeping track of dates

Maze – you are here (7)

at the pedestal of lustre, bronze
and pediments, headline
the commemoration page, oppressing
maze of scrambled memories
bits without words, no sign
stumbling over images, history
in its monuments too shiny
for the ordinary, when lit
crude light blinding
domes and cupolas pressed
against one eyed walls, resists
brutal a scar, impacts
incrustation fossils, rock
with abandoned constructions
alignment brought with observable
colums, bodies of shells
improbability to testify
here the circle of recorded facts
grave wars, unnecessarily
triumphs and falls alternating
until the return to leave again, revived
turn of spiral, stubborn
to rethink, frozen photos of the place
confusedly glimpsed, illusory
obsession to know with time
when past stands up, the ambushed
resurfacing keeping track of dates
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
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