Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Togara Muzanenhamo

I. Churchill Downs

I. Churchill Downs

Hectometers hemel krommen zich snel over brandende stangen –
modder dendert en vliegt op onder ’t glimmend slaan van zweet.
Aan de teugels wordt elke ademtocht ruw uit het borstbeen gestoten.
Knieën in. Luid galmend de zon. Wild wuiven met gebalde vuist en hoed
van de tribune – donderend applaus
uit tijdloze dingen gevormd: mannen diep gebogen, dicht op de manen,
de kortgefloten leerlap op machtige plooien vlees.
Als de hemel recht buigt,
razen ze door –
man en paard voluit,
t gewicht van vlammen die in ogen dansen
van ruiter en dier,
wolken vuur
uitgespuwd
door lippen van ’t koortsige volk.

I. Churchill Downs

Furlongs of sky curve fast over burning rails –
dirt thundering and flicking up beneath the polished clap of sweat.
At the reins, each breath draws bluntly from the sternum.
Knees in. The sun ringing loud. Pumped fists and hats tipped to wave wild
from the grandstand – a roaring applause
composed of timeless stuff: men bowed hard, given to the mane,
the short whistled cath of leather on sculpted folds of flesh.
As the sky bends out straight,
speed is held –
man and horse flat out,
the weight of flames shivering in the eyes
of rider and beast,
breaths of fire
spilling wet
off lips of the fevered crowd.
Close

I. Churchill Downs

Furlongs of sky curve fast over burning rails –
dirt thundering and flicking up beneath the polished clap of sweat.
At the reins, each breath draws bluntly from the sternum.
Knees in. The sun ringing loud. Pumped fists and hats tipped to wave wild
from the grandstand – a roaring applause
composed of timeless stuff: men bowed hard, given to the mane,
the short whistled cath of leather on sculpted folds of flesh.
As the sky bends out straight,
speed is held –
man and horse flat out,
the weight of flames shivering in the eyes
of rider and beast,
breaths of fire
spilling wet
off lips of the fevered crowd.

I. Churchill Downs

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