Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ruth Lasters

SPRING

The all-will-be-well-man made of iron and cogwheels
has to be wound up, every day, by a different
citizen. Only with a properly wound-up spring

will he shout jolting through highways and alleys:
‘All, all will always be
well!’ Those forgetting their wind-up turn risk a fine/blame/ death 
sentence (not by a long shot, darling, it won’t even
spare the one who tries to brew a highly toxic
elixir of immortality). Seriously: those neglecting their duty to wind the spring

must search blindfolded through the structure
of an all-will-get-
better-man for special bolts, scrap-metal

screws.

VEER

VEER

De alles-komt-goed-man van ijzer en raderwerk
dient opgedraaid door, elke dag, een andere
burger. Alleen met degelijk opgewonden veer

schreeuwt hij schokkend bewegend door stad en steeg:
‘Alles, alles komt altijd
goed!’ Wie vergeet zijn opwindkeer wacht een boete/blaam/dood-

straf (bijlange lange niet, lieverd, die is zelfs niet
voor wie tracht te brouwen een hoogst giftig
onsterfelijkheidselixir). Ernstig: wie verzaakt aan zijn veer-

opdraaiplicht dient geblinddoekt te zoeken voor de bouw
van een alles-wordt-
beter-man bijzondere bouten, talloze schroeven uit

schroot.
Close

SPRING

The all-will-be-well-man made of iron and cogwheels
has to be wound up, every day, by a different
citizen. Only with a properly wound-up spring

will he shout jolting through highways and alleys:
‘All, all will always be
well!’ Those forgetting their wind-up turn risk a fine/blame/ death 
sentence (not by a long shot, darling, it won’t even
spare the one who tries to brew a highly toxic
elixir of immortality). Seriously: those neglecting their duty to wind the spring

must search blindfolded through the structure
of an all-will-get-
better-man for special bolts, scrap-metal

screws.

SPRING

The all-will-be-well-man made of iron and cogwheels
has to be wound up, every day, by a different
citizen. Only with a properly wound-up spring

will he shout jolting through highways and alleys:
‘All, all will always be
well!’ Those forgetting their wind-up turn risk a fine/blame/ death 
sentence (not by a long shot, darling, it won’t even
spare the one who tries to brew a highly toxic
elixir of immortality). Seriously: those neglecting their duty to wind the spring

must search blindfolded through the structure
of an all-will-get-
better-man for special bolts, scrap-metal

screws.
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