Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Anna Enquist

CARRYING

A baby like that is light in your arms,
pressed to your breast, tiny heart to yours,
the apricot of her ear at your mouth.

Your songs pour like water into
her growing brain, they are absorbed
and claimed. She finds her voice and you

draw back, limiting yourself to the bass,
carrying once again her amazing,
immaculate solo. She laughs.

Now you’re a safety net nobody
needs. She somersaults outside of time
in silence you refuse to hear.

DRAGEN

DRAGEN

Licht is zo’n kindje te dragen, dicht
aan je borst, klein hart tegen hart,
abrikoos van haar oor aan je mond.

Wat je zingt vloeit vanzelf naar haar
groeiende brein, zet zich vast, wordt
van haar. Heeft zij haar stem, treed jij

terug, beperk je jezelf tot de bas,
draag je opnieuw haar volmaakte,
verbazende solo. Zij lacht.

Nu ben je een vangnet waar niemand
op wacht. Zij buitelde buiten de tijd
en jij weigert koppig de stilte te horen.
Close

CARRYING

A baby like that is light in your arms,
pressed to your breast, tiny heart to yours,
the apricot of her ear at your mouth.

Your songs pour like water into
her growing brain, they are absorbed
and claimed. She finds her voice and you

draw back, limiting yourself to the bass,
carrying once again her amazing,
immaculate solo. She laughs.

Now you’re a safety net nobody
needs. She somersaults outside of time
in silence you refuse to hear.

CARRYING

A baby like that is light in your arms,
pressed to your breast, tiny heart to yours,
the apricot of her ear at your mouth.

Your songs pour like water into
her growing brain, they are absorbed
and claimed. She finds her voice and you

draw back, limiting yourself to the bass,
carrying once again her amazing,
immaculate solo. She laughs.

Now you’re a safety net nobody
needs. She somersaults outside of time
in silence you refuse to hear.
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