Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ottó Tolnai

Don\'t come back

why are you shaking i ask
i am shivering he says
wolves encircling a trembling dog
why are you shivering i ask
i am afraid he says
i am afraid to return from america
but you haven’t gone away yet i say
i am afraid
even so i am afraid to return he says
for months i have crouched in this shed
watching the ridge of the rusting roof
grazing each fleecy cloud passing
the flock of clouds opening up
their wounds drenching us in a shower of blood
like the billowing filmscreen engulfing the little blind boy
then i say indeed there is no other way
don’t come back
don’t come back if you haven’t gone away yet

ne gyere vissza

ne gyere vissza

miért vacogsz kérdem
didergek mondja
ordasgyûrûben kistál kocsonya
miért dideregsz kérdem
félek mondja
félek visszajönni amerikából
de hát ki se mentél mondom
félek
még így is félek visszajönni mondja
itt gubbasztok a budin már hónapok óta
látom karcolja
a buditetõ vasrózsája a bárányfelhõket
és a karcolt bárányfelhõk felvéreznek
vérben fürdetnek bennünket
mint a suhogó mozivászon a vak vigh tibikét
akkor mondom tényleg nincs más megoldás
ne gyere vissza
ne gyere vissza ha ki se mentél
Close

Don\'t come back

why are you shaking i ask
i am shivering he says
wolves encircling a trembling dog
why are you shivering i ask
i am afraid he says
i am afraid to return from america
but you haven’t gone away yet i say
i am afraid
even so i am afraid to return he says
for months i have crouched in this shed
watching the ridge of the rusting roof
grazing each fleecy cloud passing
the flock of clouds opening up
their wounds drenching us in a shower of blood
like the billowing filmscreen engulfing the little blind boy
then i say indeed there is no other way
don’t come back
don’t come back if you haven’t gone away yet

Don\'t come back

why are you shaking i ask
i am shivering he says
wolves encircling a trembling dog
why are you shivering i ask
i am afraid he says
i am afraid to return from america
but you haven’t gone away yet i say
i am afraid
even so i am afraid to return he says
for months i have crouched in this shed
watching the ridge of the rusting roof
grazing each fleecy cloud passing
the flock of clouds opening up
their wounds drenching us in a shower of blood
like the billowing filmscreen engulfing the little blind boy
then i say indeed there is no other way
don’t come back
don’t come back if you haven’t gone away yet
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
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