Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi

EVERYTHING

Let the wind blow from a fisherman’s mouth,
from the span of a sail to the shell of a boat,
unlocking the mouth of the river –
So, shout, drowning man, when you founder
in treacherous waters

At dawn, the river embarks in silence
Riverbanks glean suns from the scales of dead fish
Jostled by eddies, the aroma of flotsam and jetsam
bakes in the shade

Becalmed, a breeze freights the stillness
Sails lazily unfurl

They sail all night from afar,
ploughing the river with ritual persistence,
staring darkness straight in the eye

You set sail at dawn,
infused with the tincture of a heart
that had beached your whole life ashore

And yet, another beloved
is offering you heaven on earth in her glance,
demanding only the perfection of poetry – everything!

ALLES

Laat de wind waaien uit de vissersmond
naar de romp van het schip – uit het gebolde zeil
laat de riviermond los
schreeuw
drenkeling
in een draaikolk
 
De rivier begint gewoonlijk kalm
de oever verzamelt zonnen
uit dode vissenbekken
kokende schimmige
geuren vegen de stenen  
 
Er is rust – wind – stemmen
van wie scheep gaan –  maar kalmte
 
Ze zeilen uit een verre nacht
ploegen met halsstarrig geduld door het water
en kijken in het donker
 
Je vaart af tegen de ochtend
weg van gezichten waarvan jij
de betekenis ziet
dichtbij zoek je de oever – groen leven, papieren
een ander huurt je, de wereld
ligt in haar ogen
zij vraagt onbeschreven bladen – alles!

Close

EVERYTHING

Let the wind blow from a fisherman’s mouth,
from the span of a sail to the shell of a boat,
unlocking the mouth of the river –
So, shout, drowning man, when you founder
in treacherous waters

At dawn, the river embarks in silence
Riverbanks glean suns from the scales of dead fish
Jostled by eddies, the aroma of flotsam and jetsam
bakes in the shade

Becalmed, a breeze freights the stillness
Sails lazily unfurl

They sail all night from afar,
ploughing the river with ritual persistence,
staring darkness straight in the eye

You set sail at dawn,
infused with the tincture of a heart
that had beached your whole life ashore

And yet, another beloved
is offering you heaven on earth in her glance,
demanding only the perfection of poetry – everything!

EVERYTHING

Let the wind blow from a fisherman’s mouth,
from the span of a sail to the shell of a boat,
unlocking the mouth of the river –
So, shout, drowning man, when you founder
in treacherous waters

At dawn, the river embarks in silence
Riverbanks glean suns from the scales of dead fish
Jostled by eddies, the aroma of flotsam and jetsam
bakes in the shade

Becalmed, a breeze freights the stillness
Sails lazily unfurl

They sail all night from afar,
ploughing the river with ritual persistence,
staring darkness straight in the eye

You set sail at dawn,
infused with the tincture of a heart
that had beached your whole life ashore

And yet, another beloved
is offering you heaven on earth in her glance,
demanding only the perfection of poetry – everything!
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
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