Poem
Leonard Nolens
LOVE’S BANKS
Taking distance and leave is the horny metaphysicsOf men who keep their love hot and moist
In a far-off spot, and so cook their days.
Leaving, slamming doors, is the pure zealotry
Of women who have swallowed their lovers
And make their swelling bodies into sheer religion.
I know those two, they are alone, but for each other.
They have time, the same one, but on grounds that differ
Like that banks of that one widespread stream.
In that water they lie abysmally reflected
Viewing the passing, passing the view.
And not a soul who knows what has got into them both.
© Translation: 2005, Scott Rollins
Liefdes oevers
Liefdes oevers
Afstand en afscheid nemen is de geile metafysicaVan mannen die hun liefde heet en vochtig houden
Op een verre plek, en zo hun dagen koken.
Weggaan, met de deuren slaan, is pure dweperij
Van vrouwen die hun minnaars hebben ingeslikt
En louter godsdienst maken van hun zwellend lijf.
Ik ken die twee, ze zijn alleen, maar voor elkaar.
Ze hebben tijd, dezelfde, maar op gronden die verschillen
Als de oevers van dezelfde hemelsbrede stroom.
In dat water liggen zij afgrondelijk gespiegeld
Het verstrijken te bekijken, het bekijken te verstrijken.
En geen mens die weet wat in die twee gevaren is.
© 1992, Leonard Nolens
From: Laat alle deuren op een kier. Verzamelde gedichten
Publisher: Querido, Amsterdam
From: Laat alle deuren op een kier. Verzamelde gedichten
Publisher: Querido, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Leonard Nolens
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LOVE’S BANKS
Taking distance and leave is the horny metaphysicsOf men who keep their love hot and moist
In a far-off spot, and so cook their days.
Leaving, slamming doors, is the pure zealotry
Of women who have swallowed their lovers
And make their swelling bodies into sheer religion.
I know those two, they are alone, but for each other.
They have time, the same one, but on grounds that differ
Like that banks of that one widespread stream.
In that water they lie abysmally reflected
Viewing the passing, passing the view.
And not a soul who knows what has got into them both.
© 2005, Scott Rollins
From: Laat alle deuren op een kier. Verzamelde gedichten
From: Laat alle deuren op een kier. Verzamelde gedichten
LOVE’S BANKS
Taking distance and leave is the horny metaphysicsOf men who keep their love hot and moist
In a far-off spot, and so cook their days.
Leaving, slamming doors, is the pure zealotry
Of women who have swallowed their lovers
And make their swelling bodies into sheer religion.
I know those two, they are alone, but for each other.
They have time, the same one, but on grounds that differ
Like that banks of that one widespread stream.
In that water they lie abysmally reflected
Viewing the passing, passing the view.
And not a soul who knows what has got into them both.
© 2005, Scott Rollins
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