In one breath

Today Poetry day in Holland and Belgium, The book In einem Atemzug, In een adem, In one breath, wib, 2011, will be presented  during the eight honorable poetesses who will read to night in the old city center of Antwerp in the literary Café den Hopsack.

She will open with the cycle Life, accompanied  by Jean Demey. Both have worked together often with wonderful results.

Life

1

It doesn't let go of you     

even if sometimes

without a leash hoping for the best

you let it run away -

It attacks you

even if it wears

a constant muzzle:

a precaution

taken in a moment

when the clock declines

to regulate

the traffic of time -

It throws sand in your eyes

as foam on your lips

it stays behind

so that, in order to speak one word,

your anger first

has to be laid out

like a corpse

not yet decomposing

but inclined

to do so

without further notice

but the teeth-grinding

of light

on the threshold

of high shadow

wanting to devour everything -