Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Maria Barnas

Two Suns

When I sink to bed the sea lies still downstairs
and the sun is as always ahead.

I’m fixing myself, a detail cut out
of dark water. And later I’ll be by the boats,

sails light as uplifted voices and almost,
among the laughter of gulls, light-hearted.

Yet in this ring of his I stand slanted
at a date. And I see how, that far off,

he’s rising with another sun. Slapdash. Again.
He called me Flower. Then Spring, Sexy, Sweetness,

Sweetest, Sweet, but lately more and more
RatherNot, NoLater, Please.

Twee zonnen

Twee zonnen

Wanneer ik ga slapen ligt de zee nog steeds beneden
en altijd is de zon me voor.

Ik sta bij een uitsnede 
van donker water en later ben ik bij de boten

met zeilen wit zo licht als opgeluchte stemmen
en tussen de schaterende meeuwen weleens opgetogen.

Maar in de ring die ik kreeg sta ik scheef
naast een datum. En ik zie hem in de verte

gaan, met een zon. Slordig herhaald in het raam.
Hij noemde me Bloem. Ook wel Lente, Sexy, Liefste,

Liefde, Lief en de laatste tijd steeds vaker
Lieverniet, Neelater, Alsjeblieft.
Close

Two Suns

When I sink to bed the sea lies still downstairs
and the sun is as always ahead.

I’m fixing myself, a detail cut out
of dark water. And later I’ll be by the boats,

sails light as uplifted voices and almost,
among the laughter of gulls, light-hearted.

Yet in this ring of his I stand slanted
at a date. And I see how, that far off,

he’s rising with another sun. Slapdash. Again.
He called me Flower. Then Spring, Sexy, Sweetness,

Sweetest, Sweet, but lately more and more
RatherNot, NoLater, Please.

Two Suns

When I sink to bed the sea lies still downstairs
and the sun is as always ahead.

I’m fixing myself, a detail cut out
of dark water. And later I’ll be by the boats,

sails light as uplifted voices and almost,
among the laughter of gulls, light-hearted.

Yet in this ring of his I stand slanted
at a date. And I see how, that far off,

he’s rising with another sun. Slapdash. Again.
He called me Flower. Then Spring, Sexy, Sweetness,

Sweetest, Sweet, but lately more and more
RatherNot, NoLater, Please.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère