Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Tonnus Oosterhoff

(She tells us:) you don’t even notice from the memory

(She tells us:) you don’t even notice from the memory
going, I don’t at least,
but from the way he acts. Ungainliness,
incorrect use of words. He began
He began by breaking his leg at ski-ing, that was
a kind of bravura. Though he was always terribly
careful.
So terribly careful. And also. I


I saw it from his tennis too.
He no longer attacked at tennis,
it was just defending.
He reacted oddly to the children. Rea.
I said so


And constantly the same book on holiday.


And at work. He just/wanted to stay/like that (on the bridge),
(the captain of the ship), his
colleagues protected


him. Him the.
But always beginning something that's already been done,
again and again, it
was no good anymore.
Finally   at home so long the   home


Now I have seen this (she tells us:
there's a wind, but that's outside), been through it, he
I don't even know how to remember him
he wasn't even   the same anymore


and of course he is still there . . .
but now this is so
I know with death there's nothing more I know
I know for sure.

(Ze vertelt:) je merkt het niet eens aan dat het geheugen

(Ze vertelt:) je merkt het niet eens aan dat het geheugen
gaat, ik tenminste,
maar aan zijn doen en laten. Onhandigheid,
verkeerd woordgebruik. Hij begon
Hij begon met zijn been te breken met skieën, dat was
uit een soort bravoure. Terwijl hij altijd ontzettend zorgvuldig
was.
Ontzettend zo zorgvuldig was. En ook. Ik


Ik zag het aan zijn tennissen ook.
Hij tenniste niet meer aanvallend,
het was alleen verdedigend.
Op de kinderen redigeerde hij vreemd. Rea.
Dat zei ik


En continu hetzelfde boek mee op vakantie.


En op zijn werk. Hij wou maar/zo (op de brug) blijven,
(de kapitein op het schip), zijn
zijn collega's hielden een hand


boven zijn hoofd. Hem de.
Maar steeds iets beginnen dat al af is,
telkens en telkens, het
het ging niet meer.
Uiteindelijk thuis      zo lang het     tehuis


Nu ik dit zo gezien heb (vertelt ze;
het waait, maar dat is buiten), meegemaakt, hij
ik weet niet eens hoe ik me hem herinneren moet
hij was niet eens     niet meer dezelfde


en natuurlijk hij is er ook nog . . .
maar nu dit zo
weet ik met de dood is er niets meer weet ik
zeker weet ik.
Close

(She tells us:) you don’t even notice from the memory

(She tells us:) you don’t even notice from the memory
going, I don’t at least,
but from the way he acts. Ungainliness,
incorrect use of words. He began
He began by breaking his leg at ski-ing, that was
a kind of bravura. Though he was always terribly
careful.
So terribly careful. And also. I


I saw it from his tennis too.
He no longer attacked at tennis,
it was just defending.
He reacted oddly to the children. Rea.
I said so


And constantly the same book on holiday.


And at work. He just/wanted to stay/like that (on the bridge),
(the captain of the ship), his
colleagues protected


him. Him the.
But always beginning something that's already been done,
again and again, it
was no good anymore.
Finally   at home so long the   home


Now I have seen this (she tells us:
there's a wind, but that's outside), been through it, he
I don't even know how to remember him
he wasn't even   the same anymore


and of course he is still there . . .
but now this is so
I know with death there's nothing more I know
I know for sure.

(She tells us:) you don’t even notice from the memory

(She tells us:) you don’t even notice from the memory
going, I don’t at least,
but from the way he acts. Ungainliness,
incorrect use of words. He began
He began by breaking his leg at ski-ing, that was
a kind of bravura. Though he was always terribly
careful.
So terribly careful. And also. I


I saw it from his tennis too.
He no longer attacked at tennis,
it was just defending.
He reacted oddly to the children. Rea.
I said so


And constantly the same book on holiday.


And at work. He just/wanted to stay/like that (on the bridge),
(the captain of the ship), his
colleagues protected


him. Him the.
But always beginning something that's already been done,
again and again, it
was no good anymore.
Finally   at home so long the   home


Now I have seen this (she tells us:
there's a wind, but that's outside), been through it, he
I don't even know how to remember him
he wasn't even   the same anymore


and of course he is still there . . .
but now this is so
I know with death there's nothing more I know
I know for sure.
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