Poem
Alexis de Roode
The state of play
With T. things are now improving.Glass objects are still shattering
in her eyes, but she is getting out of bed again.
B. can’t be reached on weekdays for the time being.
K. is allowed to see his children now: one at a time.
I. has finally done it.
P. is dead. L. too.
As for me – it’s not about me right now.
And society – they say there’s a crisis.
What a pity people never notice all those things that are doing well.
A lot of them are still trying to have children.
Granny Z. left the drunken party at one a.m.,
and cycled home, at the age of ninety.
Many free-minded people prepared fresh food today.
Behind millions of windows there is a warm bed with someone in it.
The barren fig plant has grown seven new leaves.
© Translation: 2018, Donald Gardner
De stand van zaken
De stand van zaken
Met T. gaat het nu beter.In haar ogen spat nog altijd glaswerk
uit elkaar, maar ze komt haar bed weer uit.
B. is voorlopig doordeweeks niet te bereiken.
K. mag zijn kinderen weer zien: eentje tegelijk.
I. heeft het eindelijk gedaan.
P. is dood. L. ook.
Ikzelf – het gaat hier even niet om mij.
En met de maatschappij – ze zeggen dat er een crisis is.
Ach, de mensen hebben geen oog voor alles wat goed gaat.
Nog velen proberen kinderen te krijgen.
Oma Z. stond om een uur 's nachts op van het dronken feest,
en ging te fiets naar huis, negentig jaar oud.
Veel verstandige mensen hebben vandaag vers eten bereid.
Achter miljoenen ramen is de warmte van een bed met iemand erin.
De kale ficus heeft zeven nieuwe blaadjes gekregen.
© 2017, Alexis de Roode
From: Een steen openvouwen
Publisher: Uitgeverij Podium, Amsterdam
From: Een steen openvouwen
Publisher: Uitgeverij Podium, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Alexis de Roode
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The state of play
With T. things are now improving.Glass objects are still shattering
in her eyes, but she is getting out of bed again.
B. can’t be reached on weekdays for the time being.
K. is allowed to see his children now: one at a time.
I. has finally done it.
P. is dead. L. too.
As for me – it’s not about me right now.
And society – they say there’s a crisis.
What a pity people never notice all those things that are doing well.
A lot of them are still trying to have children.
Granny Z. left the drunken party at one a.m.,
and cycled home, at the age of ninety.
Many free-minded people prepared fresh food today.
Behind millions of windows there is a warm bed with someone in it.
The barren fig plant has grown seven new leaves.
© 2018, Donald Gardner
From: Een steen openvouwen
From: Een steen openvouwen
The state of play
With T. things are now improving.Glass objects are still shattering
in her eyes, but she is getting out of bed again.
B. can’t be reached on weekdays for the time being.
K. is allowed to see his children now: one at a time.
I. has finally done it.
P. is dead. L. too.
As for me – it’s not about me right now.
And society – they say there’s a crisis.
What a pity people never notice all those things that are doing well.
A lot of them are still trying to have children.
Granny Z. left the drunken party at one a.m.,
and cycled home, at the age of ninety.
Many free-minded people prepared fresh food today.
Behind millions of windows there is a warm bed with someone in it.
The barren fig plant has grown seven new leaves.
© 2018, Donald Gardner
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