Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Anne Vegter

The precision of despair

My human nature makes itself unpunished
master of the inhuman.
I listen: a beating heart

is so common nowadays. Anyone without it
disturbs the pattern with the precision of despair.
The history of long-suffered pain pursues me

like the two stars – hey, twin brothers!
By all that’s Pollux – who can touch me?
I no longer feel looked at like a fish in water;

here nobody has time for peace.
Mammie, around me they put bullets through their heads.
Suicide’s a measure of the quality of life.

Who will, who can, who dares!
Pain begins at the base of the nose. Spare me the details.
I am a sick body’s child.

Even without you every star will burst
red. Mammie, they’re shooting me inside me.
The indisposition is just the beginning.

Mijn menselijke natuur maakt zich ongestraft

Mijn menselijke natuur maakt zich ongestraft
meester van het onmenselijke.
Ik luister: een kloppend hart

is zo gewoon tegenwoordig. Wie er niet over beschikt
stoort het patroon met de precisie van de wanhoop.
De geschiedenis van oud zeer achtervolgt me

als de twee sterren, ha die tweelingbroers!
Bij Pollux, wie maakt me wat?
Ik voel mij niet langer bekeken als een vis in het water;

hier heeft niemand tijd voor vrede.
Mammie, om mij heen schieten ze kogels door hun hoofd.
Zelfmoord is de graadmeter van levenskwaliteit.

Wie wil wie kan wie durft!
De pijn begint in de neuswortel. Bespaar me de details.
Ik ben het kind van een ziek lichaam.

Ook zonder jou zal elke ster rood uiteen-
spatten. Mammie, ze beschieten mij in mij.
De ongesteldheid is pas het begin.
Close

The precision of despair

My human nature makes itself unpunished
master of the inhuman.
I listen: a beating heart

is so common nowadays. Anyone without it
disturbs the pattern with the precision of despair.
The history of long-suffered pain pursues me

like the two stars – hey, twin brothers!
By all that’s Pollux – who can touch me?
I no longer feel looked at like a fish in water;

here nobody has time for peace.
Mammie, around me they put bullets through their heads.
Suicide’s a measure of the quality of life.

Who will, who can, who dares!
Pain begins at the base of the nose. Spare me the details.
I am a sick body’s child.

Even without you every star will burst
red. Mammie, they’re shooting me inside me.
The indisposition is just the beginning.

The precision of despair

My human nature makes itself unpunished
master of the inhuman.
I listen: a beating heart

is so common nowadays. Anyone without it
disturbs the pattern with the precision of despair.
The history of long-suffered pain pursues me

like the two stars – hey, twin brothers!
By all that’s Pollux – who can touch me?
I no longer feel looked at like a fish in water;

here nobody has time for peace.
Mammie, around me they put bullets through their heads.
Suicide’s a measure of the quality of life.

Who will, who can, who dares!
Pain begins at the base of the nose. Spare me the details.
I am a sick body’s child.

Even without you every star will burst
red. Mammie, they’re shooting me inside me.
The indisposition is just the beginning.
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