Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Alfred Schaffer

a snake in the figurative sense

a snake in the figurative sense.

palaeontologists in her wake.
a red haze before their eyes.

a fanatical little monster somewhere on the heath.

a talking snake, but then for real.

a confused story about the scary world out there.

about good vs evil.
that evil often gets in the way.

which is absolute nonsense of course:
even my enemy’s enemy is my friend.

sure, there must be something behind it all.
blunders, misunderstandings.
the strange workings of science.

but surely no genius master plan?

in paradise
everyone ends up on the same page.

and that’s precisely because of what we know today.

a snake in the figurative sense

de slang in overdrachtelijke zin.

paleontologen in haar kielzog.
een rode waas voor hun ogen.

een fanatiek monstertje ergens op de heide.

een slang die spreekt, maar dan in het echt.

een warrig verhaal over de boze buitenwereld.

over goed versus kwaad. dat het kwaad
vaak in de weg staat.

wat natuurlijk grote onzin is:
zelfs de vijand van mijn vijand is mijn vriend.

zeker, achter alles moet iets zitten.
blunders, misverstanden.
het reilen en zeilen van de wetenschap.

maar toch geen geniaal masterplan?

in het paradijs
staan alle neuzen immers dezelfde kant op.

en wel dankzij de kennis van nu.  
 
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a snake in the figurative sense

a snake in the figurative sense.

palaeontologists in her wake.
a red haze before their eyes.

a fanatical little monster somewhere on the heath.

a talking snake, but then for real.

a confused story about the scary world out there.

about good vs evil.
that evil often gets in the way.

which is absolute nonsense of course:
even my enemy’s enemy is my friend.

sure, there must be something behind it all.
blunders, misunderstandings.
the strange workings of science.

but surely no genius master plan?

in paradise
everyone ends up on the same page.

and that’s precisely because of what we know today.

a snake in the figurative sense

a snake in the figurative sense.

palaeontologists in her wake.
a red haze before their eyes.

a fanatical little monster somewhere on the heath.

a talking snake, but then for real.

a confused story about the scary world out there.

about good vs evil.
that evil often gets in the way.

which is absolute nonsense of course:
even my enemy’s enemy is my friend.

sure, there must be something behind it all.
blunders, misunderstandings.
the strange workings of science.

but surely no genius master plan?

in paradise
everyone ends up on the same page.

and that’s precisely because of what we know today.
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