Poem
Ramsey Nasr
true lover
the rose the lily the dove the sunmonkey saturn the hydrogen bomb
love’s bliss encompasses a lot of things
big and tangible they fit
easy in the mitts
of all-crumbling lovers
for them it’s all:
a. cuppa cha cuppa java
b. ootchy-kootchy
c. cuddly-snuggly honeybunny
d. hi sweetie hi sugarplum
lovers trivialise the elements
a tad
stepping like armoured children
into their means of transport
sitting in their topsy-turvy choo-choo train
that’s come to a standstill
for the second time this week
because of the silly chappie underneath
full of love he too
wanted to crush language
with his hands like them
but in his own way
he took steps
exploding himself from element
to vast delaying chaos
sudden thaw and frost in one
human bliss clings to stars and pollen
no miracle too big or small
for the determined blind
monkey is rose dove sun
the true lover admits no difference
between lily and hydrogen bomb
© Translation: 2004, David Colmer
de zuivere minnaar
de zuivere minnaar
de roos de lelie de duif de zonde aap saturnus de waterstofbom
liefdesroes omvat allerlei zaken
groot en tastbaar passen ze
met gemak in de knuistjes
van allesverkruimende minnaars
daar is het:
a. koffietje theetje
b. koetsji-moetsji
c. lepeltje-lepeltje poepjeliefje
d. dag schattie dag beertje
minnaars kleineren de elementen
een beetje
stappen als gepantserd kind
samen het vervoer in
zitten in hun holderdebolderend treintje
dat voor de tweede keer deze week
tot stilstand komt
vanwege het gekke meneertje eronder
ook hij vol liefde
had de taal met zijn handen
willen verbrijzelen als hen
alleen op andere wijze
hij had ingegrepen
blies zichzelf van element
tot immens vertragende chaos
werd plotse dooi en ijzel ineen
mensenroes kleeft aan sterren en stuifmeel
geen wonder groot of klein genoeg
voor blinden met wilskracht
is aap roos duif zon
voor de zuivere minnaar bestaat geen verschil
tussen lelie en waterstofbom
© 2004, Ramsey Nasr
From: Onhandig bloesemend
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
From: Onhandig bloesemend
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Ramsey Nasr
Close
true lover
the rose the lily the dove the sunmonkey saturn the hydrogen bomb
love’s bliss encompasses a lot of things
big and tangible they fit
easy in the mitts
of all-crumbling lovers
for them it’s all:
a. cuppa cha cuppa java
b. ootchy-kootchy
c. cuddly-snuggly honeybunny
d. hi sweetie hi sugarplum
lovers trivialise the elements
a tad
stepping like armoured children
into their means of transport
sitting in their topsy-turvy choo-choo train
that’s come to a standstill
for the second time this week
because of the silly chappie underneath
full of love he too
wanted to crush language
with his hands like them
but in his own way
he took steps
exploding himself from element
to vast delaying chaos
sudden thaw and frost in one
human bliss clings to stars and pollen
no miracle too big or small
for the determined blind
monkey is rose dove sun
the true lover admits no difference
between lily and hydrogen bomb
© 2004, David Colmer
From: Onhandig bloesemend
From: Onhandig bloesemend
true lover
the rose the lily the dove the sunmonkey saturn the hydrogen bomb
love’s bliss encompasses a lot of things
big and tangible they fit
easy in the mitts
of all-crumbling lovers
for them it’s all:
a. cuppa cha cuppa java
b. ootchy-kootchy
c. cuddly-snuggly honeybunny
d. hi sweetie hi sugarplum
lovers trivialise the elements
a tad
stepping like armoured children
into their means of transport
sitting in their topsy-turvy choo-choo train
that’s come to a standstill
for the second time this week
because of the silly chappie underneath
full of love he too
wanted to crush language
with his hands like them
but in his own way
he took steps
exploding himself from element
to vast delaying chaos
sudden thaw and frost in one
human bliss clings to stars and pollen
no miracle too big or small
for the determined blind
monkey is rose dove sun
the true lover admits no difference
between lily and hydrogen bomb
© 2004, David Colmer
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