Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Peter Verhelst

3.

Do not be sad, my love, but cry for me,
I’ll let your tears dissolve inside me, let them recall
The memories of others, tears that you, both hot and happy
Poured on me, when beaming you held me in thrall,

When with that force you took me as a man
And moments later died, your little death,
Much like a child in my embrace, with every breath
You dear sweet thing, you came in me again, again.

Look how I dance before you, how with every twist of loin
I shape a letter, watch me well and read those letters then
Off me, commit them to your memory, so I may join

You every day, rejoicing, crouching down before your face,
Aglow with longing, am your heartbeat, am your man
The poem in your mouth, tattooed in place.

3.

3.

Wees niet verdrietig, liefste, maar huil voor mij,
Ik zal je tranen in me laten oplossen, ze zullen me herinneren
Aan die andere, de tranen die je, heet en blij
Op me stortte, toen je stralend mij doorzinderde,

Toen je heersend als een man mij nam
En even later als een kind in mijn omhelzing
Stierf, je kleine dood, lief lekker ding
Van me, zoals je keer op keer in me kwam.

Kijk hoe ik voor je dans, hoe ik met elke lendenslag
Een letter vorm, kijk goed, en lees die letters van
Me af, leer me uit je hoofd, zodat ik elke dag jou mag

Bezoeken, juichend, neergehurkt voor je gezicht,
Opgloeiend van verlangen, hartslag van je, man
Van je, in je mond getatoeëerd gedicht.
Close

3.

Do not be sad, my love, but cry for me,
I’ll let your tears dissolve inside me, let them recall
The memories of others, tears that you, both hot and happy
Poured on me, when beaming you held me in thrall,

When with that force you took me as a man
And moments later died, your little death,
Much like a child in my embrace, with every breath
You dear sweet thing, you came in me again, again.

Look how I dance before you, how with every twist of loin
I shape a letter, watch me well and read those letters then
Off me, commit them to your memory, so I may join

You every day, rejoicing, crouching down before your face,
Aglow with longing, am your heartbeat, am your man
The poem in your mouth, tattooed in place.

3.

Do not be sad, my love, but cry for me,
I’ll let your tears dissolve inside me, let them recall
The memories of others, tears that you, both hot and happy
Poured on me, when beaming you held me in thrall,

When with that force you took me as a man
And moments later died, your little death,
Much like a child in my embrace, with every breath
You dear sweet thing, you came in me again, again.

Look how I dance before you, how with every twist of loin
I shape a letter, watch me well and read those letters then
Off me, commit them to your memory, so I may join

You every day, rejoicing, crouching down before your face,
Aglow with longing, am your heartbeat, am your man
The poem in your mouth, tattooed in place.
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