Poem
Vahni Capildeo
A world
Een wereld
Waarin de handen van mensen veranderden in dingen zoals bloemenwaarvoor nieuwe, ongemakkelijke vormen van behoedzaamheid
waarmee die man in zijn ijzeren pak, dom en voorzichtig
de menigten doorkruist, met aan zijn polsen twee rode hibiscusbloemen,
onvermijdelijk gekwetst, licht geheven, licht naar voren,
een gerimpelde fontein hun kroonbladen begeleidt hem.
Hoe de intrekker van contracten met de kakkerlakgreep te naderen?
Hoe hem te naderen wiens zandkrabhanden proberen terzij te rennen?
Hoe hem te naderen? of hoe bij de meeuwenomstuwde te komen,
wie het niet lukt een handschoen te schuiven om lekkende zakjes maïs?
Ach, wiens gekoelde handen verdwijnen, condenseren, herschapen druppels . . .
instant, bestendigde blaarzijde, mocht hij ooit een hart raken:
© Vertaling: 2019, Han van der Vegt
A world
In which the hands of people changed to things like flowersfor which new, uneasy forms of consideration
by which that iron-suited man, foolish and careful,
negotiates crowds, his two wrists bearing red hibiscus
necessarily bruised, a little raised, a little forwards,
a rivelled fountain their corollas accompanying him.
How approach the cockroach-gripped revoker of contracts?
How approach him whose sand crab hands try running askew?
How approach him? or how near the one mobbed by seagulls,
helpless to pull a glove on leaking packets of corn?
Ah whose iced hands disappear, condense, remade droplets...
instant, lasting blister-silk, should he once touch a heart:
© 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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Poems of Vahni Capildeo
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A world
In which the hands of people changed to things like flowersfor which new, uneasy forms of consideration
by which that iron-suited man, foolish and careful,
negotiates crowds, his two wrists bearing red hibiscus
necessarily bruised, a little raised, a little forwards,
a rivelled fountain their corollas accompanying him.
How approach the cockroach-gripped revoker of contracts?
How approach him whose sand crab hands try running askew?
How approach him? or how near the one mobbed by seagulls,
helpless to pull a glove on leaking packets of corn?
Ah whose iced hands disappear, condense, remade droplets...
instant, lasting blister-silk, should he once touch a heart:
From: Utter
A world
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