Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Esther Jansma

ABSENCE

As roses open, you do not notice –
a rose is a rose is, is suddenly knowing
that what was said is saying itself again,
missing is plural, keeps unfolding into now

and you do not understand how. Inside the heart
you lie and wait, while nothing seeks you, nothing
sleeps you into the light, keeps unleafing
and falling into itself.

AFWEZIGHEID

AFWEZIGHEID

Zoals rozen openen, je ziet het niet,
een roos is een roos is, is plotseling weten:
wat werd gezegd zegt zich weer, missen
is veelvoud, blijft opengaan in het nu

en je begrijpt niet hoe. Je ligt in het hart
en je wacht en niets zoekt je, niets
slaapt je naar het licht, blijft zich ontvouwen
terwijl het valt in zichzelf.
Close

ABSENCE

As roses open, you do not notice –
a rose is a rose is, is suddenly knowing
that what was said is saying itself again,
missing is plural, keeps unfolding into now

and you do not understand how. Inside the heart
you lie and wait, while nothing seeks you, nothing
sleeps you into the light, keeps unleafing
and falling into itself.

ABSENCE

As roses open, you do not notice –
a rose is a rose is, is suddenly knowing
that what was said is saying itself again,
missing is plural, keeps unfolding into now

and you do not understand how. Inside the heart
you lie and wait, while nothing seeks you, nothing
sleeps you into the light, keeps unleafing
and falling into itself.
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