Poem
Karel van de Woestijne
A star: a clump of ice ...
A star: a clump of ice between my burning teeth ...
While thou art hid from sight, oh sea that barely breathes;
while my heart keeps silence like an aged nun
comes this precise infinity to sear my lips.
My nights were once a basket heaped with dreams;
my days the sum of all the apples that swell
in every orchard and on every laden tree.
I’d not fingers enough to count my riches.
Now: emptiness. The time is bleak, unmoved. The time
is like the chill and arid sea, that heaves nor moans.
I am alone; I press together my stiff lips
on naught but this great star, which scorches them.
© Translation: 2002, Tanis Guest
From: The Low Countries 10
Publisher: Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem, 2002
From: The Low Countries 10
Publisher: Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem, 2002
Een ster: een klompken ijs tusschen mijn heete tanden ...
Een ster: een klompken ijs tusschen mijn heete tanden ...
Terwijl ge onzichtbaar zijt, o zee, die nauwelijks hijgt;
terwijl mijn hart gelijk een oude zuster zwijgt,
komt deze stipte oneindlijkheid mijn lippen branden.
– Mijn nachten waren eene mand vol droom aan droom;
mijn dagen, ’t vast getal der appelen die zwellen
in elken boom-gaard en aan elken zwaren boom.
Ik had geen vingren om mijn weelden aan te tellen.
Thans: ijlt’. De tijd is guur en onberoerd. De tijd
is als de kille en dorre zee, die zwoegt noch krijt.
Ik ben alleen; ik pers mijn strakke lippen samen
op eenzaam deze groote sterre, die ze bijt.
© 1926, Karel van de Woestijne
From: Het zatte hart, Verzameld werk
Publisher: Lannoo, Tielt
From: Het zatte hart, Verzameld werk
Publisher: Lannoo, Tielt
Poems
Poems of Karel van de Woestijne
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A star: a clump of ice ...
A star: a clump of ice between my burning teeth ...
While thou art hid from sight, oh sea that barely breathes;
while my heart keeps silence like an aged nun
comes this precise infinity to sear my lips.
My nights were once a basket heaped with dreams;
my days the sum of all the apples that swell
in every orchard and on every laden tree.
I’d not fingers enough to count my riches.
Now: emptiness. The time is bleak, unmoved. The time
is like the chill and arid sea, that heaves nor moans.
I am alone; I press together my stiff lips
on naught but this great star, which scorches them.
© 2002, Tanis Guest
From: The Low Countries 10
Publisher: 2002, Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem
From: The Low Countries 10
Publisher: 2002, Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem
A star: a clump of ice ...
A star: a clump of ice between my burning teeth ...
While thou art hid from sight, oh sea that barely breathes;
while my heart keeps silence like an aged nun
comes this precise infinity to sear my lips.
My nights were once a basket heaped with dreams;
my days the sum of all the apples that swell
in every orchard and on every laden tree.
I’d not fingers enough to count my riches.
Now: emptiness. The time is bleak, unmoved. The time
is like the chill and arid sea, that heaves nor moans.
I am alone; I press together my stiff lips
on naught but this great star, which scorches them.
© 2002, Tanis Guest
From: The Low Countries 10
Publisher: 2002, Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem
From: The Low Countries 10
Publisher: 2002, Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem
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