Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Chris Magadza

Narita Airport

Narita Airport

Narita Airport

When I watch the youth,
Abustle and ahustle,
Launching themselves
To unknown lands,
To unknown peoples,
To discovery and adventure
And perhaps undiscovered friends:

Careless of the future,
Chasing Eros
And the gods of mirth
And happiness,
And not worrying
About tomorrow’s meal
Nor tomorrow’s shelter

I feel like
The last passenger
On the last train
To the last destination.

But,
Unlike Tithonus,
Desired by an immortal goddess,
Aphrodite beautiful,
Begged for immortality,
I am blessed
With the gift
Of death.


Tokyo, 1998
Close

Narita Airport

When I watch the youth,
Abustle and ahustle,
Launching themselves
To unknown lands,
To unknown peoples,
To discovery and adventure
And perhaps undiscovered friends:

Careless of the future,
Chasing Eros
And the gods of mirth
And happiness,
And not worrying
About tomorrow’s meal
Nor tomorrow’s shelter

I feel like
The last passenger
On the last train
To the last destination.

But,
Unlike Tithonus,
Desired by an immortal goddess,
Aphrodite beautiful,
Begged for immortality,
I am blessed
With the gift
Of death.


Tokyo, 1998

Narita Airport

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