Poem
Rutger Kopland
problems without end
One ought to avoid the word ‘problem’for two simple reasons:
there are endless examples of problems
that don’t exist – I’ll be coming back to that
there are equally endless numbers of problems
that do exist, but are not named as such -
I’ll be coming back to that too.
All happenings, for instance, yes all of them,
around us and inside us, they happened
and one wonders why.
Forgive me my sole answer: why not?
For everything that happens is an exception
to the rule according to which it doesn’t.
It is therefore better not to use the word ‘problem’
for the problems that are and those that are not
are the same.
I could go on like this until I stop.
There’s much to be said (before) for that, nothing afterwards.
oneindig veel problemen
oneindig veel problemen
Men zou het woord probleem moeten vermijdenom twee simpele redenen:
er zijn oneindig veel voorbeelden van problemen
die er niet zijn – ik kom hier op terug
er zijn even oneindig veel voorbeelden van problemen
die er wel zijn, maar niet zo worden genoemd -
ook hierop kom ik terug.
Alle gebeurtenissen bijvoorbeeld, ja alle,
om ons heen en in ons, ze zijn gebeurd
en men vraagt waarom.
Vergeef mij mijn enige antwoord: waarom niet?
Want alle gebeurtenissen zijn uitzonderingen op
al die regels volgens welke ze niet gebeuren.
Het is dus beter het woord probleem niet te gebruiken
want de problemen die er zijn en er niet zijn
zijn dezelfde.
Zo zou ik kunnen doorgaan tot ik ophoud.
Daar is veel voor te zeggen, niets daarna.
© 1997, G.A. van Oorschot
From: Tot het ons loslaat
Publisher: G.A. van Oorschot,
From: Tot het ons loslaat
Publisher: G.A. van Oorschot,
Poems
Poems of Rutger Kopland
Close
problems without end
One ought to avoid the word ‘problem’for two simple reasons:
there are endless examples of problems
that don’t exist – I’ll be coming back to that
there are equally endless numbers of problems
that do exist, but are not named as such -
I’ll be coming back to that too.
All happenings, for instance, yes all of them,
around us and inside us, they happened
and one wonders why.
Forgive me my sole answer: why not?
For everything that happens is an exception
to the rule according to which it doesn’t.
It is therefore better not to use the word ‘problem’
for the problems that are and those that are not
are the same.
I could go on like this until I stop.
There’s much to be said (before) for that, nothing afterwards.
From: Tot het ons loslaat
problems without end
One ought to avoid the word ‘problem’for two simple reasons:
there are endless examples of problems
that don’t exist – I’ll be coming back to that
there are equally endless numbers of problems
that do exist, but are not named as such -
I’ll be coming back to that too.
All happenings, for instance, yes all of them,
around us and inside us, they happened
and one wonders why.
Forgive me my sole answer: why not?
For everything that happens is an exception
to the rule according to which it doesn’t.
It is therefore better not to use the word ‘problem’
for the problems that are and those that are not
are the same.
I could go on like this until I stop.
There’s much to be said (before) for that, nothing afterwards.
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