Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ruth Lasters

FIELD

Perhaps football really is the only goal,
of the subconscious and conscious too: two parts

quite simply because a match requires two
teams. At some point half of your neurones consciously

represent a ball, as big and heavy as the head itself, in which
beyond your control the olfactory memory grows of

newly-mown grass: the field. First the ball wins, you see it
so sharply before you, down to the stitching of your leather

skull. Then the unconscious grass perception scores, fills
your brain herby green until it almost snaps and only

the tickling of a sheet along your cheek causes a
a resetting kick-off, which will make everything possible

again.

VELD

VELD

Misschien is voetbal écht het enige doel,
ook van het onderbewustzijn en het bewuste: twee delen

enkel en alleen omdat een match twee ploegen
vereist. Ooit stelt de helft van je neuronen bewust voor

een bal, zo groot en zwaar als het hoofd zelf, waarin
groeit buiten jezelf om de geurherinnering van

pasgemaaid gras: het veld. Eerst wint de bal, zie je hem
haarscherp voor je, tot op de stiksels van je lederen

schedel. Dan scoort de onbewuste grasgewaarwording, vult
kruidig groen je brein tot het haast knapt en slechts

het kriebelen van een laken langs je wang al veroorzaakt
een resettende, alles opnieuw mogelijk makende

aftrap.
Close

FIELD

Perhaps football really is the only goal,
of the subconscious and conscious too: two parts

quite simply because a match requires two
teams. At some point half of your neurones consciously

represent a ball, as big and heavy as the head itself, in which
beyond your control the olfactory memory grows of

newly-mown grass: the field. First the ball wins, you see it
so sharply before you, down to the stitching of your leather

skull. Then the unconscious grass perception scores, fills
your brain herby green until it almost snaps and only

the tickling of a sheet along your cheek causes a
a resetting kick-off, which will make everything possible

again.

FIELD

Perhaps football really is the only goal,
of the subconscious and conscious too: two parts

quite simply because a match requires two
teams. At some point half of your neurones consciously

represent a ball, as big and heavy as the head itself, in which
beyond your control the olfactory memory grows of

newly-mown grass: the field. First the ball wins, you see it
so sharply before you, down to the stitching of your leather

skull. Then the unconscious grass perception scores, fills
your brain herby green until it almost snaps and only

the tickling of a sheet along your cheek causes a
a resetting kick-off, which will make everything possible

again.
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