Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Piet Gerbrandy

The days in which you were dead were trifling and long

The days in which you were dead were trifling and long
         and full of shrieking birds the nights.

I have opened my books and declaimed unbroken.
I was in my stride and lucid.
I had them laughing out of my hand.

I have mown my grass weeded my fragrant bed
         and cut back the bluest wisteria on my gable.

I have sorted your letters in caskets but not to burn them.

I have walked with beards in gowns on awkward paths
         listened to them praying
                  their rending extravagant reverence.

I made a list of your kisses.
I made a list of your eyes.
I wrote a positive review of a crap book.
I rehearsed my speech full of allusions.

I chilled my beers assuaged my thirst
         told non-PC jokes to my guests.

The day you showed up was no sunny day
         and the nights full of croaking creatures.

That sleeplessness can make deep inroads is nothing new.

De dagen waarin je dood waren luttel en lang

De dagen waarin je dood waren luttel en lang
          en vol schelle vogels de nachten.

Ik heb mijn boeken geopend en zonder knak georeerd.
ik was op dreef en lucide.
Enkele lachers leken op mijn hand.

Ik heb mijn gras gemaaid mijn geurig bed gewied
          gesnoeid de blauwste regen van mijn gevel.

Ik heb je brieven geschikt en gekist maar niet om ze te verbranden.

Ik heb met baarden in jurken op hoekige paden
          gewandeld hun bidden beluisterd
                    hun scheurend uitbundige eerbied.

Ik maakte een lijst van je kussen.
Ik maakte een lijst van je ogen.
Ik schreef een lovend artikel over een kutboek.
Ik repeteerde mijn toespraak vol allusies.

Ik heb mijn bieren gekoeld mijn dorsten gelenigd
          foute grappen gemaakt met mijn gastvrienden.

De dag dat je opdook geen zonnige dag
          en de nachten vol krassende dieren.

Dat slaapgebrek er stevig kan inhakken is eigenlijk geen nieuws.
Close

The days in which you were dead were trifling and long

The days in which you were dead were trifling and long
         and full of shrieking birds the nights.

I have opened my books and declaimed unbroken.
I was in my stride and lucid.
I had them laughing out of my hand.

I have mown my grass weeded my fragrant bed
         and cut back the bluest wisteria on my gable.

I have sorted your letters in caskets but not to burn them.

I have walked with beards in gowns on awkward paths
         listened to them praying
                  their rending extravagant reverence.

I made a list of your kisses.
I made a list of your eyes.
I wrote a positive review of a crap book.
I rehearsed my speech full of allusions.

I chilled my beers assuaged my thirst
         told non-PC jokes to my guests.

The day you showed up was no sunny day
         and the nights full of croaking creatures.

That sleeplessness can make deep inroads is nothing new.

The days in which you were dead were trifling and long

The days in which you were dead were trifling and long
         and full of shrieking birds the nights.

I have opened my books and declaimed unbroken.
I was in my stride and lucid.
I had them laughing out of my hand.

I have mown my grass weeded my fragrant bed
         and cut back the bluest wisteria on my gable.

I have sorted your letters in caskets but not to burn them.

I have walked with beards in gowns on awkward paths
         listened to them praying
                  their rending extravagant reverence.

I made a list of your kisses.
I made a list of your eyes.
I wrote a positive review of a crap book.
I rehearsed my speech full of allusions.

I chilled my beers assuaged my thirst
         told non-PC jokes to my guests.

The day you showed up was no sunny day
         and the nights full of croaking creatures.

That sleeplessness can make deep inroads is nothing new.
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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
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