Anneke Brassinga

Watchwords

DUTCH              DEUTSCH           МАКЕДОНСКИ               

Translated by John Irons

 

I was so well-practised in waiting

that I gave a start when someone came;

I had never heard of him

recognised him as soon as he spoke

so that I didn’t think in terms of waiting.

Two gorillas, Lust and Gluttony,

guarded the gate from above;

in a ship camouflaged with sheets

we entered the city, passing below them.

The bag of tarts remained closed,

spared from my mouth for years already;

there was never time, extra time,

to escape delay.

We are now so practised in waiting

that, like a child, it’s part of us.

 

Ivan Ivanovski:: Drempel:: Threshold