Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Peter Verhelst

2.

We were not useful, jewels, and squandered luxuries,
Our love consumed itself as it burned,
We gave and took with sheer abandon, boundaries
Unknown to us, the thing we never learned

Was not to tell, why should we, lovers rather handle
What’s abundant, being boys who managed to conjure
Gold from flesh and muscle. Flickering flames on a candle
Burning at both ends. Something halfway a creature

And God. Both greedy and needy. Crazy. Two kingly serpents
In a mating dance that seemed eternal; nothing
Is eternal though, my love: eternity is desire’s burden,

Of which we were aware, we wanted that in all respects,
To be exhausted by us rather than washed out. It’s all or nothing.
You are my all. Take me. From smile to sex.

2.

2.

We waren nutteloos, juwelen, luxe en verspilling,
Onze liefde heeft zichzelf als vuur verteerd,
We gaven en we namen mateloos, onthouding
Was ons vreemd, we hebben elkaar nooit geleerd

Nooit te zeggen, waarom zouden we, we waren minnaars
Van de overvloed, twee jongens die van vlees en spieren
Goud wisten te maken. Flakkerende vlammen op een kaars
Die aan twee kanten brandt. Iets tussen dier en

God in. Gulzig. Ongeduldig. Dol. Twee trotse koningsslangen
In een paringsdans die eeuwig leek, maar niets
Is eeuwig, liefste: eeuwigheid is dodelijk voor het verlangen

En dat wisten we, dat wilden we vanaf de eerste dag.
Liever uitgeput door ons dan uitgeblust. Alles of niets.
Jij bent mijn alles. Neem mij. Van glimlach tot geslacht.
Close

2.

We were not useful, jewels, and squandered luxuries,
Our love consumed itself as it burned,
We gave and took with sheer abandon, boundaries
Unknown to us, the thing we never learned

Was not to tell, why should we, lovers rather handle
What’s abundant, being boys who managed to conjure
Gold from flesh and muscle. Flickering flames on a candle
Burning at both ends. Something halfway a creature

And God. Both greedy and needy. Crazy. Two kingly serpents
In a mating dance that seemed eternal; nothing
Is eternal though, my love: eternity is desire’s burden,

Of which we were aware, we wanted that in all respects,
To be exhausted by us rather than washed out. It’s all or nothing.
You are my all. Take me. From smile to sex.

2.

We were not useful, jewels, and squandered luxuries,
Our love consumed itself as it burned,
We gave and took with sheer abandon, boundaries
Unknown to us, the thing we never learned

Was not to tell, why should we, lovers rather handle
What’s abundant, being boys who managed to conjure
Gold from flesh and muscle. Flickering flames on a candle
Burning at both ends. Something halfway a creature

And God. Both greedy and needy. Crazy. Two kingly serpents
In a mating dance that seemed eternal; nothing
Is eternal though, my love: eternity is desire’s burden,

Of which we were aware, we wanted that in all respects,
To be exhausted by us rather than washed out. It’s all or nothing.
You are my all. Take me. From smile to sex.
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