Poem
Peter Verhelst
4.
If you no longer, not hereAnymore, just memories, evaporate
One at a time, and I alone always, everywhere
In search of nothing, by a sleepless state
Consumed, to keep myself from dreaming of you.
I don’t want you to pretend that you’re still here
Now neither lustful, languid smile nor flesh and sinew,
I’m no longer the one with whom you were familiar.
You’ve taken me with you. Leave
Alone the thing that I am here within,
A thing so full of pain it needs to grieve,
A deadly hate that burns itself, till I am purified and purged and –
Take good care of who I was. Think of the kiss I wish I’d been
Once more. Forget the kiss I no longer am.
4.
4.
Als jij niet langer, niet meerHier, louter herinneringen, één voor één
Verdampend, en ik altijd overal alleen
Op zoek naar niets, door slapeloosheid verteerd
Omdat ik niet van je wil dromen.
Ik wil niet dat je doet alsof je er nog bent
Niet langer vlees en spieren, geen geile, lome
Glimlach meer, ik ben niet langer wie je hebt gekend,
Je hebt me met je meegenomen. Laat
Het ding dat ik hier ben met rust,
Een ding vol pijn dat leeg moet lopen, doodshaat
Die zichzelf verbrandt, tot ik gezuiverd en gelouterd en –
Zorg goed voor wie ik was. Denk nog één keer aan de kus
Die ik had willen zijn. Vergeet de kus die ik niet langer ben.
From: Nieuwe sterrenbeelden
Publisher: Prometheus, Amsterdam
Publisher: Prometheus, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Peter Verhelst
Close
4.
If you no longer, not hereAnymore, just memories, evaporate
One at a time, and I alone always, everywhere
In search of nothing, by a sleepless state
Consumed, to keep myself from dreaming of you.
I don’t want you to pretend that you’re still here
Now neither lustful, languid smile nor flesh and sinew,
I’m no longer the one with whom you were familiar.
You’ve taken me with you. Leave
Alone the thing that I am here within,
A thing so full of pain it needs to grieve,
A deadly hate that burns itself, till I am purified and purged and –
Take good care of who I was. Think of the kiss I wish I’d been
Once more. Forget the kiss I no longer am.
From: Nieuwe sterrenbeelden
4.
If you no longer, not hereAnymore, just memories, evaporate
One at a time, and I alone always, everywhere
In search of nothing, by a sleepless state
Consumed, to keep myself from dreaming of you.
I don’t want you to pretend that you’re still here
Now neither lustful, languid smile nor flesh and sinew,
I’m no longer the one with whom you were familiar.
You’ve taken me with you. Leave
Alone the thing that I am here within,
A thing so full of pain it needs to grieve,
A deadly hate that burns itself, till I am purified and purged and –
Take good care of who I was. Think of the kiss I wish I’d been
Once more. Forget the kiss I no longer am.
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