Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Laura Accerboni

Have you any idea

Have you any idea
how long it took
to dismember them
one by one
and remind
the gills
of the sea
under the faucet’s
hot jet
that you say
‘turn off.’
And I reply
that it’s Christmas
and it’s normal
to have a tub
to freeze in.
And you’d better
not look,
you’re not old enough
while my fingers
slide down the back
splitting the breast
and scraping out the innards.
And you shout
that it’s Christmas
and we’re all
in danger
under the jet
of hot water
and you kick at the air
and carry me
gasping
away from the bathroom.

Heb je enig idee

Heb je enig idee
hoeveel moeite het gekost heeft
om ze één voor één
te fileren,
en de kieuwen
te herinneren
aan de zee
met de warme straal
van de kraan
waarvan jij zegt
‘draai ’m dicht’.
En ik antwoord
dat het Kerstmis is
en het normaal is
een kuip te hebben
om in te vriezen.
En het zou beter zijn
dat je niet keek
je bent nog te jong
terwijl ik met mijn vingers
over de rug glijd
de buikwand openhaal
en de troep verwijder.
En jij schreeuwt
dat het Kerstmis is
en dat we allemaal
in gevaar zijn
onder de straal
warm water
en je schopt in de lucht
en jaagt me
naar lucht happend
de badkamer uit.

Hai idea di quanto
ci sia voluto
per smembrarli
uno ad uno
e ricordare
alle branchie
il mare
con il getto caldo
del rubinetto
che dici
"chiudi".
E io rispondo
che è natale
ed è normale
avere una vasca
dove congelare.
E sarebbe meglio
non guardassi
non hai ancora gli anni
mentre con le dita
scivolo sul dorso
dividendo il petto
e togliendo gli scarti.
E tu urli
che è natale
e che siamo in pericolo
tutti
sotto il getto
d’ acqua calda
e tiri calci all'aria
e mi allontani
boccheggiando
dal bagno.
Close

Have you any idea

Have you any idea
how long it took
to dismember them
one by one
and remind
the gills
of the sea
under the faucet’s
hot jet
that you say
‘turn off.’
And I reply
that it’s Christmas
and it’s normal
to have a tub
to freeze in.
And you’d better
not look,
you’re not old enough
while my fingers
slide down the back
splitting the breast
and scraping out the innards.
And you shout
that it’s Christmas
and we’re all
in danger
under the jet
of hot water
and you kick at the air
and carry me
gasping
away from the bathroom.

Have you any idea

Have you any idea
how long it took
to dismember them
one by one
and remind
the gills
of the sea
under the faucet’s
hot jet
that you say
‘turn off.’
And I reply
that it’s Christmas
and it’s normal
to have a tub
to freeze in.
And you’d better
not look,
you’re not old enough
while my fingers
slide down the back
splitting the breast
and scraping out the innards.
And you shout
that it’s Christmas
and we’re all
in danger
under the jet
of hot water
and you kick at the air
and carry me
gasping
away from the bathroom.
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