Poem
Gerrit Komrij
the accountant
Another man. He lays my chattels bare.The time has come to tot up the accounts.
He lists my goods – from castles in the air
To golden bracelet. I am stripped right down.
My probate clerk leaves not a thing untold.
He counts and counts. His strength seems to accrue.
For him the stuff of memory is gold.
He wants the substance and the trimmings too.
Once I’m completely figured, he’s quite bland.
The one who’s grasped that the accountant’s earnings
Were not what he had earned, and that you can,
Unearning, earn the most, is most discerning.
de accountant
de accountant
Een andere heer. Hij doet het materiële.De rekening moet worden opgemaakt.
Hij indexeert mijn goed - van luchtkastelen
Tot gouden bracelet. Dan ben ik naakt.
Mijn rekenmeester laat niets onvermeld.
Hij telt en telt. Hij lijkt wel drie man sterk.
Voor hem is ook geheugeninhoud geld.
Hij wil de bodem en het kruimelwerk.
Als ik becijferd ben is hij mijn vriend.
Wie heeft begrepen dat hij niet verdiende
Wat hij verdiende, en dat je onverdiend
Het meest verdient, pas zo iemand is ziende.
© 1997, Gerrit Komrij
From: Faust, zoveelste deel
From: Faust, zoveelste deel
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Poems
Poems of Gerrit Komrij
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the accountant
Another man. He lays my chattels bare.The time has come to tot up the accounts.
He lists my goods – from castles in the air
To golden bracelet. I am stripped right down.
My probate clerk leaves not a thing untold.
He counts and counts. His strength seems to accrue.
For him the stuff of memory is gold.
He wants the substance and the trimmings too.
Once I’m completely figured, he’s quite bland.
The one who’s grasped that the accountant’s earnings
Were not what he had earned, and that you can,
Unearning, earn the most, is most discerning.
From: Faust, zoveelste deel
the accountant
Another man. He lays my chattels bare.The time has come to tot up the accounts.
He lists my goods – from castles in the air
To golden bracelet. I am stripped right down.
My probate clerk leaves not a thing untold.
He counts and counts. His strength seems to accrue.
For him the stuff of memory is gold.
He wants the substance and the trimmings too.
Once I’m completely figured, he’s quite bland.
The one who’s grasped that the accountant’s earnings
Were not what he had earned, and that you can,
Unearning, earn the most, is most discerning.
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