Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Barbara Köhler

AS IT TURNS OUT

I’ve no say in it everything’s
ready-said for me I like turns
of phrase that transform fixed
sentences between walls spaced
out into unruly spaces a place
not known: the unknown a woman
an ‘I’ a voice given to speech
a resounding body taken at its
word grows hands that are mine
to take hold of an incantation
& when I stand by this word it
is my entitlement reaching out
it meets you half way it comes
and goes between us the speech
the stillness, space, composed

Entpuppung

Entpuppung

Ich habe das Sagen nicht. Ich lasse es
mir gesagt sein mir gefallen Wendungen
die verwandeln die EinRichtung zwischen
verrückten Wänden in ungehörige Räume
eine Fremde in der ich die Fremde bin
eine Stimme die sich der Sprache gibt
Klangkörper beim Wort genommen wachsen
mir Hände zu begreifen beschwören wenn
ich zum Wort stehe steht es mir zu dir
entgegen kommt es und geht zwischen uns
die Rede die Stille ein Raum, gelassen.
Close

AS IT TURNS OUT

I’ve no say in it everything’s
ready-said for me I like turns
of phrase that transform fixed
sentences between walls spaced
out into unruly spaces a place
not known: the unknown a woman
an ‘I’ a voice given to speech
a resounding body taken at its
word grows hands that are mine
to take hold of an incantation
& when I stand by this word it
is my entitlement reaching out
it meets you half way it comes
and goes between us the speech
the stillness, space, composed

AS IT TURNS OUT

I’ve no say in it everything’s
ready-said for me I like turns
of phrase that transform fixed
sentences between walls spaced
out into unruly spaces a place
not known: the unknown a woman
an ‘I’ a voice given to speech
a resounding body taken at its
word grows hands that are mine
to take hold of an incantation
& when I stand by this word it
is my entitlement reaching out
it meets you half way it comes
and goes between us the speech
the stillness, space, composed
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère