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.
© Translation: 2006, John Irons and Jan Lauwereyns
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.
© 2002, Jan Lauwereyns
From: Buigzaamheden
Publisher: Meulenhoff, Amsterdam
From: Buigzaamheden
Publisher: Meulenhoff, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Jan Lauwereyns
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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.
© 2006, John Irons and Jan Lauwereyns
From: Buigzaamheden
From: Buigzaamheden
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.
© 2006, John Irons and Jan Lauwereyns
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