Poetry International Poetry International
Gedicht

Fang Xianhai

This work of art

Getting out
of the taxi
I noticed in the distance
on the corner of Nanshan Road

a couple embracing

I thought as I walked passing couples lock-
ed in embrace
brought more of joy to the eye
than a city
full of degenerate
sculptures

but as I got closer
what answered my musing
took me by surprise
I saw

that this couple
were only going through the motions
of embracing
two heads drooping
and stuck
demoralized
together
without pleasure
without sadness
and even without
a stillness
to make you stop for a minute

in an uneasy
mood I
walked away
from them

but I went on
trying to come to terms with

this work of art

THIS WORK OF ART

Fang Xianhai

Fang Xianhai

(China, 1971)

Landen

Ontdek andere dichters en gedichten uit China

Gedichten Dichters

Talen

Ontdek andere dichters en gedichten in het Chinees

Gedichten Dichters
Close

THIS WORK OF ART

This work of art

Getting out
of the taxi
I noticed in the distance
on the corner of Nanshan Road

a couple embracing

I thought as I walked passing couples lock-
ed in embrace
brought more of joy to the eye
than a city
full of degenerate
sculptures

but as I got closer
what answered my musing
took me by surprise
I saw

that this couple
were only going through the motions
of embracing
two heads drooping
and stuck
demoralized
together
without pleasure
without sadness
and even without
a stillness
to make you stop for a minute

in an uneasy
mood I
walked away
from them

but I went on
trying to come to terms with

this work of art
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