Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Robert Anker

He always wants to play chess with us, but he misses the pieces

He always wants to play chess with us, but he misses the pieces
in our heads that take him so, that him himself eludes so sternly,
in the rings of his spectacles his eyes keep shifting.
He then succumbs, accepts the grenadine to save his face.
He cannot do without the shards in his head but dreams
a blackboard, softer chalk and what he knows in brilliant dustlight
from tall windows falls on his hands and them to kiss.
He looks at us from the loops of his eyes, unforgettable,
how thick we are. We must have beer after another well-ordered
day of reality to quell in good cheer what we are
in fortifying stories for the paupers of the soul.
He rises from his chair and puts the chessboard on our little table sorrow.
The yokels draw up theirs, begrudging him the king.

Hij wil altijd met ons schaken maar hij mist de stukken

Hij wil altijd met ons schaken maar hij mist de stukken
in ons hoofd die hem zo slaan, dat hem zichzelf zo streng ontgaat,
in de ringen van zijn bril zijn ogen steeds verspringen.
Dan slaat hij neer en accepteert de grenadine om de eer.
De scherven in zijn hoofd kan hij niet missen maar hij droomt
een schoolbord, zachter krijt en wat hij weet in helder stoflicht
uit hoge ramen op zijn handen valt en die te kussen.
Hij kijkt ons uit de lussen van zijn ogen aan, onvergetelijk,
zo dom wij zijn. Wij moeten bier na weer zo\'n overzichtelijke
dag van werkelijkheid om hier verheugd te sussen wat we zijn
in de sterkende verhalen voor de paupers van de ziel.
Dan staat hij op en legt het bord neer op ons tafeltje verdriet.
De pummels schuiven aan en wensen hem de koning niet.
Close

He always wants to play chess with us, but he misses the pieces

He always wants to play chess with us, but he misses the pieces
in our heads that take him so, that him himself eludes so sternly,
in the rings of his spectacles his eyes keep shifting.
He then succumbs, accepts the grenadine to save his face.
He cannot do without the shards in his head but dreams
a blackboard, softer chalk and what he knows in brilliant dustlight
from tall windows falls on his hands and them to kiss.
He looks at us from the loops of his eyes, unforgettable,
how thick we are. We must have beer after another well-ordered
day of reality to quell in good cheer what we are
in fortifying stories for the paupers of the soul.
He rises from his chair and puts the chessboard on our little table sorrow.
The yokels draw up theirs, begrudging him the king.

He always wants to play chess with us, but he misses the pieces

He always wants to play chess with us, but he misses the pieces
in our heads that take him so, that him himself eludes so sternly,
in the rings of his spectacles his eyes keep shifting.
He then succumbs, accepts the grenadine to save his face.
He cannot do without the shards in his head but dreams
a blackboard, softer chalk and what he knows in brilliant dustlight
from tall windows falls on his hands and them to kiss.
He looks at us from the loops of his eyes, unforgettable,
how thick we are. We must have beer after another well-ordered
day of reality to quell in good cheer what we are
in fortifying stories for the paupers of the soul.
He rises from his chair and puts the chessboard on our little table sorrow.
The yokels draw up theirs, begrudging him the king.
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