Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Piet Gerbrandy

Now all the leaks are stopped

Now all the leaks are stopped
                  things get quiet in this house.
Walls begin to dry out
                  their flowers to wither
                  no sound now can find its way inside.

Tonight I’ll be looking for you again
                  always lying one room further on
                  but gone once I’m there.

Now I see the far side also crumbling
                  reflecting windows suddenly smashed.
Now I see how the surface of the street breaks open
                  the street becomes an abyss of freezing pipes.

Should you lie down with me after all
                  I’ll walk around a little for what I lack.
A builder’s lamp will guide me to its pit.

Smock and hard hat and spade await in silence.

Activities are suddenly brought to a halt at the strangest moments

Nu alle lekken gedicht

Nu alle lekken gedicht
                 wordt het stil in dit huis.
Wanden beginnen te drogen
                 hun bloemen te welken
                 geluid vindt geen weg meer naar binnen.

Vannacht zal ik opnieuw naar jou
                 op zoek die steeds een kamer verder
                 ligt maar weg bent als ik daar.

Nu zie ik ook de overkant verkruimelt
                 spiegelende vensters plots versplinterd.
Nu zie ik hoe de straat een vlakte opent
                 de straat zelf afgrond wordt van koude buizen.

Mocht je straks toch bij me liggen
                 zal ik mij vertreden om gemis.
Een bouwlamp zal mij naar zijn bouwput voeren.

Stil wachten hes en helm en spade af.

Op de raarste momenten worden werkzaamheden ineens stilgelegd
Close

Now all the leaks are stopped

Now all the leaks are stopped
                  things get quiet in this house.
Walls begin to dry out
                  their flowers to wither
                  no sound now can find its way inside.

Tonight I’ll be looking for you again
                  always lying one room further on
                  but gone once I’m there.

Now I see the far side also crumbling
                  reflecting windows suddenly smashed.
Now I see how the surface of the street breaks open
                  the street becomes an abyss of freezing pipes.

Should you lie down with me after all
                  I’ll walk around a little for what I lack.
A builder’s lamp will guide me to its pit.

Smock and hard hat and spade await in silence.

Activities are suddenly brought to a halt at the strangest moments

Now all the leaks are stopped

Now all the leaks are stopped
                  things get quiet in this house.
Walls begin to dry out
                  their flowers to wither
                  no sound now can find its way inside.

Tonight I’ll be looking for you again
                  always lying one room further on
                  but gone once I’m there.

Now I see the far side also crumbling
                  reflecting windows suddenly smashed.
Now I see how the surface of the street breaks open
                  the street becomes an abyss of freezing pipes.

Should you lie down with me after all
                  I’ll walk around a little for what I lack.
A builder’s lamp will guide me to its pit.

Smock and hard hat and spade await in silence.

Activities are suddenly brought to a halt at the strangest moments
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