Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Margarida Vale de Gato

EMULATORS

Was it circus or siege, gesture or style
the act of embracing? was it candor
such tenderness together such ardor
in a climate of luxury and guile?

The thing we did, was it the same as love,
or tacit touch? the two of us in want
and morningless, yielding to the moment;
getting fucked was an awkward move.

Seen objectively, no one was deluded
it was the real thing – only the placebo
with some excess accelerates the libido.

And I betrayed, unjust . . . long-winded,
that zeal that nothing should be said,
and how I wanted to go down liquid.

TEGENSPELERS

Was wat wij deden zoals liefde of
een zwijgend tasten? – beiden begerig
en zonder morgen onderworpen aan het heden;
was dat wij neukten een aanvaard bedrog.

Omsingeling of circus, gebaar of stijl
de daad van ons omhelzen? Oprecht
en teder was de seks die werd gedeeld
in een klimaat van heimelijke pracht.

En welbeschouwd werd niemand misleid
dat het het ware was – slechts de placebo
in een overdaad die het libido versnelt.

En ik, woordrijk, onbillijk, begrijp niet
met welke ijver er niet werd gesproken,
hoezeer ik vloeibaar wenste aan te raken.

ÉMULOS

Foi como amor aquilo que fizemos
ou tacto tácito? – os dois carentes
e sem manhã sujeitos ao presente;
foi logro aceite quando nos fodemos.

Foi circo ou cerco, gesto ou estilo
o acto de abraçarmos? foi candura
o termos juntos sexo com ternura
num clima de aparato e de sigilo.

Se virmos bem ninguém foi iludido
de que era a coisa em si – só o placebo
com algum excesso que acelera a líbido.

E eu, palavrosa, injusta desconcebo
o zelo de que nada fosse dito
e quanto quis tocar em estado líquido.
Close

EMULATORS

Was it circus or siege, gesture or style
the act of embracing? was it candor
such tenderness together such ardor
in a climate of luxury and guile?

The thing we did, was it the same as love,
or tacit touch? the two of us in want
and morningless, yielding to the moment;
getting fucked was an awkward move.

Seen objectively, no one was deluded
it was the real thing – only the placebo
with some excess accelerates the libido.

And I betrayed, unjust . . . long-winded,
that zeal that nothing should be said,
and how I wanted to go down liquid.

EMULATORS

Was it circus or siege, gesture or style
the act of embracing? was it candor
such tenderness together such ardor
in a climate of luxury and guile?

The thing we did, was it the same as love,
or tacit touch? the two of us in want
and morningless, yielding to the moment;
getting fucked was an awkward move.

Seen objectively, no one was deluded
it was the real thing – only the placebo
with some excess accelerates the libido.

And I betrayed, unjust . . . long-winded,
that zeal that nothing should be said,
and how I wanted to go down liquid.
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