Poetry International Poetry International
Gedicht

Mir Mahfuz Ali

A Golden Bowl

A Golden Bowl

A Golden Bowl

What’s this?
I’m invited to a great feast?
But here I stand, lost
in the yard,
amongst officials
in tail-coats,
luring me to a boat
moored on the shore.
They are the ones appointed
to lead me to the treat.

How have I, of all men,
women and sick children,
deserved a lavish dinner?
The whole country is in turmoil.
Houses are on fire.
Blood in the rivers.
Roads are deserted.
Shops are closed.
Weeping at every doorstep.
And I have been chosen
to represent this people,
to put their case at the banquet.

The women came to me
with clay pots.
How can I stand before them
with a golden bowl
that’s totally empty,
shaking in my hands
while shame and dark regrets
rise up in my soul.
What am I to do now?
How can I ferry them over
to the feast?
Mir Mahfuz Ali

Mir Mahfuz Ali

(Bangladesh, 1958)

Landen

Ontdek andere dichters en gedichten uit Verenigd Koninkrijk

Gedichten Dichters

Talen

Ontdek andere dichters en gedichten in het Engels

Gedichten Dichters
Close

A Golden Bowl

What’s this?
I’m invited to a great feast?
But here I stand, lost
in the yard,
amongst officials
in tail-coats,
luring me to a boat
moored on the shore.
They are the ones appointed
to lead me to the treat.

How have I, of all men,
women and sick children,
deserved a lavish dinner?
The whole country is in turmoil.
Houses are on fire.
Blood in the rivers.
Roads are deserted.
Shops are closed.
Weeping at every doorstep.
And I have been chosen
to represent this people,
to put their case at the banquet.

The women came to me
with clay pots.
How can I stand before them
with a golden bowl
that’s totally empty,
shaking in my hands
while shame and dark regrets
rise up in my soul.
What am I to do now?
How can I ferry them over
to the feast?

A Golden Bowl

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