Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Maria Barnas

IT IS RAINING ON THE FREDERIKSPLEIN

She is standing on the edge of what is just
about to happen and the surrounding trees stiffen

straight up. She folds up promises to others
spitting two words into the unyielding

white water. A dog jumps
over the edge as it begins

to rain in the fountain.
Love had to do with it

but it is only the language that is inclined.
And inclines.

Fountains make similar gestures
and the dog will shake itself out of its coat

if things go on like this. She is not sure about her hand
and where her words touch the water

two dogs begin to dawn.
One without a coat the other without a heart.

HET REGENT OP HET FREDERIKSPLEIN

HET REGENT OP HET FREDERIKSPLEIN

Ze staat aan de rand van wat er staat
te gebeuren en omringende bomen verstarren

rechtop. Ze vouwt beloften aan anderen
op en spuugt twee woorden in het resolute

witte water. Een hond springt
over de rand als het begint

te regenen in de fontein.
Liefde had ermee te maken

maar het is alleen de taal die neigt.
En neigen blijft.

Fonteinen maken vergelijkbare gebaren
en de hond schudt zich nog uit zijn vacht

als dit zo door blijft gaan. Haar hand aarzelt
en waar haar woorden het water raken

beginnen twee honden te dagen.
Een zonder vacht de ander zonder hart.
Close

IT IS RAINING ON THE FREDERIKSPLEIN

She is standing on the edge of what is just
about to happen and the surrounding trees stiffen

straight up. She folds up promises to others
spitting two words into the unyielding

white water. A dog jumps
over the edge as it begins

to rain in the fountain.
Love had to do with it

but it is only the language that is inclined.
And inclines.

Fountains make similar gestures
and the dog will shake itself out of its coat

if things go on like this. She is not sure about her hand
and where her words touch the water

two dogs begin to dawn.
One without a coat the other without a heart.

IT IS RAINING ON THE FREDERIKSPLEIN

She is standing on the edge of what is just
about to happen and the surrounding trees stiffen

straight up. She folds up promises to others
spitting two words into the unyielding

white water. A dog jumps
over the edge as it begins

to rain in the fountain.
Love had to do with it

but it is only the language that is inclined.
And inclines.

Fountains make similar gestures
and the dog will shake itself out of its coat

if things go on like this. She is not sure about her hand
and where her words touch the water

two dogs begin to dawn.
One without a coat the other without a heart.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
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Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère