Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jan Lauwereyns

ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY

Is Mount Kilimanjaro high enough?
To shoot yourself in the back?

When your feet sink in eternal snow.
Well then?

You stretch your arm out,
you drag the iron canine across it.
The dragon in your hand spews fire.

Dragon: space-launcher, bearer of mostly
undesirable objects in an orbit round the earth

were it not for the fact

that the chance of success goes down
with gravity. Headwind?

The number of casualties en route.

Anatomie van melancholie

Anatomie van melancholie

Is de Kilimanjaro hoog genoeg?
Om jezelf in de rug te schieten?

Wanneer je voeten wegzinken in eeuwige sneeuw.
Nu dan?

Je strekt je arm,
je haalt de ijzeren hoektand over.
De draak in je hand spuwt vuur.

Draak: orbitaleur, brenger van veelal
ongewenste voorwerpen in een baan rond de aarde

ware het niet

dat de slaagkans omgekeerd evenredig is
met zwaartekracht. Tegenwind?

Het aantal slachtoffers onderweg.
Close

ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY

Is Mount Kilimanjaro high enough?
To shoot yourself in the back?

When your feet sink in eternal snow.
Well then?

You stretch your arm out,
you drag the iron canine across it.
The dragon in your hand spews fire.

Dragon: space-launcher, bearer of mostly
undesirable objects in an orbit round the earth

were it not for the fact

that the chance of success goes down
with gravity. Headwind?

The number of casualties en route.

ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY

Is Mount Kilimanjaro high enough?
To shoot yourself in the back?

When your feet sink in eternal snow.
Well then?

You stretch your arm out,
you drag the iron canine across it.
The dragon in your hand spews fire.

Dragon: space-launcher, bearer of mostly
undesirable objects in an orbit round the earth

were it not for the fact

that the chance of success goes down
with gravity. Headwind?

The number of casualties en route.
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Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
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Versopolis
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