Poem
Vahni Capildeo
Utter
Uiten
Nacht drinkt zout water uit een emmer, trekteen mouw uit de zee, morst hand over mond.
Nacht geeft de emmer terug aan de zeeman.
Nacht, in blauw hemd, waadt aritmisch.
Nacht spoedt weg, de heuvel op.
De hemel vlamt op als om te zeggen wat
Tong rolt aan tegen de tanden als om te zeggen wat
De kustlijn verbrokkelt grof en gefortificeerd
Tijd van leven geven, vreemdeling,
deze dageraad dwingen omlaag te regenen en jou te uiten.
© Vertaling: 2019, Han van der Vegt
Utter
Night drinks salt water from a bucket, drawsa sleeve from the sea, spills hand across mouth.
Night hands back the bucket to the sailor.
Night, blue-shirted, wades arrythmically.
Night hurries off uphill.
The sky fires up as if to say what
Tongue swells against teeth as if to say what
The coastline cuts up thick and fortified
Giving the time of day, stranger,
willing this dawn rain down and utter you.
© 2013, Vahni Capildeo
From: Utter
Publisher: Peepal Tree Press, Leed
From: Utter
Publisher: Peepal Tree Press, Leed
Vahni Capildeo
(Trinidad and Tobago, 1973)
Vahni Capildeo is among the most respected and loved poets writing in the UK today. Opening any of their many volumes will demonstrate why, but no single collection shows the huge breadth of their range – for Capildeo’s reputation is based on ceaseless innovation and exploration. Their first book, No Traveller Returns (Salt Publishing), appeared in 2003 and the latest, Skin Can Hold, will be pu...
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Utter
Night drinks salt water from a bucket, drawsa sleeve from the sea, spills hand across mouth.
Night hands back the bucket to the sailor.
Night, blue-shirted, wades arrythmically.
Night hurries off uphill.
The sky fires up as if to say what
Tongue swells against teeth as if to say what
The coastline cuts up thick and fortified
Giving the time of day, stranger,
willing this dawn rain down and utter you.
From: Utter
Utter
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