Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Elly de Waard

The deep silence of a

The deep silence of a
mainland, without a coast

or line of surf, no, better
the serrated lowland on the sea

its edges thin as
postage stamps and ravelled

everything there carries a watermark
or is watery; the moon

a hammered out silver disk
tear-stained behind her

film of mist, her veil;
the women there are sand-colored

and as blond as new wood
and just as fragrant

De diepe stilte van het

De diepe stilte van het
vasteland, zo zonder kust

en branding, nee, dan
het kartelige laagland aan de zee

met randen dun als
postzegels en rafelig

alles is er gewatermerkt
of waterig; de maan

een uitgedeukt zilveren plaatje
betraand achter haar

floers van damp, haar voile;
de vrouwen zijn er zandkleurig

en blond als nieuw hout
en even geurig
Close

The deep silence of a

The deep silence of a
mainland, without a coast

or line of surf, no, better
the serrated lowland on the sea

its edges thin as
postage stamps and ravelled

everything there carries a watermark
or is watery; the moon

a hammered out silver disk
tear-stained behind her

film of mist, her veil;
the women there are sand-colored

and as blond as new wood
and just as fragrant

The deep silence of a

The deep silence of a
mainland, without a coast

or line of surf, no, better
the serrated lowland on the sea

its edges thin as
postage stamps and ravelled

everything there carries a watermark
or is watery; the moon

a hammered out silver disk
tear-stained behind her

film of mist, her veil;
the women there are sand-colored

and as blond as new wood
and just as fragrant
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