Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Anneke Brassinga

ROMANTIC

Behind the waterfall, roaming across rustling fields,
crouched above liverwort, springing from cliffs

at springtide; you used to see them everywhere,
in every poem picturesque passers-by with their orations,

conversations, screams if need be. Lighter the days
in this sublunary world when poetry

hung roseate upon the branches, free
as a burgeoning. Now that would grow real

in a reciprocity of words  –
yet stolidly as ever, ignominy and despair
lie in wait for us behind the trees.

ROMANTISCH

ROMANTISCH

Achter de waterval, over ruisende velden gaand,
gehurkt boven flesjesmos, springend van klippen

bij springtij; je zag ze vroeger overal,
in ieder gedicht pittoreske passanten die oreerden,

converseerden, desnoods schreeuwden. Lichter dagen
doorwandelde het ondermaanse toen er poëzie

rooskleurig aan de takken hing, vrij
als een ontluiken dat nu werkelijk ging worden

in wederkerigheid van woorden –
nog altijd wachten schanddaad en vertwijfeling
ons zwijgend op achter de bomen.
 
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ROMANTIC

Behind the waterfall, roaming across rustling fields,
crouched above liverwort, springing from cliffs

at springtide; you used to see them everywhere,
in every poem picturesque passers-by with their orations,

conversations, screams if need be. Lighter the days
in this sublunary world when poetry

hung roseate upon the branches, free
as a burgeoning. Now that would grow real

in a reciprocity of words  –
yet stolidly as ever, ignominy and despair
lie in wait for us behind the trees.

ROMANTIC

Behind the waterfall, roaming across rustling fields,
crouched above liverwort, springing from cliffs

at springtide; you used to see them everywhere,
in every poem picturesque passers-by with their orations,

conversations, screams if need be. Lighter the days
in this sublunary world when poetry

hung roseate upon the branches, free
as a burgeoning. Now that would grow real

in a reciprocity of words  –
yet stolidly as ever, ignominy and despair
lie in wait for us behind the trees.
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