Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Vasyl Makhno

Elegy of water

Every rainbow drinks water – and fish fly in the wind.
Deep oceans of the world – black hole – dust of thought –
fish slip from our hands – in return for five loaves of breads,
in return for a sorrowful glance pale as a bleached sail.

Fishermen arrive at boats overturned like turtles
who murmur about the old days: plink of water –
damp scent, freckles of salt – hideous jellyfish
stains cover the shore.

The boats are creaking – the wind dries their ribs

and green nets – not trees – sway in the shadows.

ELEGY OF WATER

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Elegy of water

Every rainbow drinks water – and fish fly in the wind.
Deep oceans of the world – black hole – dust of thought –
fish slip from our hands – in return for five loaves of breads,
in return for a sorrowful glance pale as a bleached sail.

Fishermen arrive at boats overturned like turtles
who murmur about the old days: plink of water –
damp scent, freckles of salt – hideous jellyfish
stains cover the shore.

The boats are creaking – the wind dries their ribs

and green nets – not trees – sway in the shadows.

Elegy of water

Every rainbow drinks water – and fish fly in the wind.
Deep oceans of the world – black hole – dust of thought –
fish slip from our hands – in return for five loaves of breads,
in return for a sorrowful glance pale as a bleached sail.

Fishermen arrive at boats overturned like turtles
who murmur about the old days: plink of water –
damp scent, freckles of salt – hideous jellyfish
stains cover the shore.

The boats are creaking – the wind dries their ribs

and green nets – not trees – sway in the shadows.
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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
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