Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Alexis de Roode

Sunday morning

For one whole empty day
the car stands and waits behind the house.
Tomorrow at this time I have to go to the office.
The car is ready.
It waits for me.
My girlfriend forbids me to think of tomorrow.
Today you are free.
This freedom, this whole day of freedom
is granted me in my contract.
I could go and sit in my car for a moment.
On the cool leather. And turn on the radio.
To feel what it is like to drive to my work,
without driving to my work.
I carry out my plan.
This is surely the freedom I have a right to.
This is freedom.
I caress the steering wheel, turn the window down.
Wait an hour.

Zondagochtend

Zondagochtend

De hele lege dag
staat de auto achter het huis te wachten.
Morgen moet ik naar kantoor om deze tijd.
De auto staat klaar.
Hij wacht op mij.
Mijn vriendin verbiedt mij aan morgen te denken.
Vandaag ben je vrij.
Deze vrijheid, deze hele dag van vrijheid
is mij contractueel toegekend.
Ik zou heel even in de auto kunnen gaan zitten.
Op het koele leer. En de radio aanzetten.
Om te voelen hoe het is naar mijn werk te rijden,
zonder dat ik naar mijn werk rijd.
Ik voer mijn plan uit.
Dit is nochtans de vrijheid waar ik recht op heb.
Dit is vrijheid.
Ik streel het stuur, draai het raampje open.
Wacht een uur.
Close

Sunday morning

For one whole empty day
the car stands and waits behind the house.
Tomorrow at this time I have to go to the office.
The car is ready.
It waits for me.
My girlfriend forbids me to think of tomorrow.
Today you are free.
This freedom, this whole day of freedom
is granted me in my contract.
I could go and sit in my car for a moment.
On the cool leather. And turn on the radio.
To feel what it is like to drive to my work,
without driving to my work.
I carry out my plan.
This is surely the freedom I have a right to.
This is freedom.
I caress the steering wheel, turn the window down.
Wait an hour.

Sunday morning

For one whole empty day
the car stands and waits behind the house.
Tomorrow at this time I have to go to the office.
The car is ready.
It waits for me.
My girlfriend forbids me to think of tomorrow.
Today you are free.
This freedom, this whole day of freedom
is granted me in my contract.
I could go and sit in my car for a moment.
On the cool leather. And turn on the radio.
To feel what it is like to drive to my work,
without driving to my work.
I carry out my plan.
This is surely the freedom I have a right to.
This is freedom.
I caress the steering wheel, turn the window down.
Wait an hour.
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
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