Tuesday, 10 August 2021

Esther Jansma: 'Waarom we hier zijn'


Why we are here

 

Most illogical about just stuff is movement, opening

leaves, the body anchored in the earth without any

prospect of relocating, turning with the sun,

getting free from the soil, falling out of an embrace,

without realising you are alive but quivering with will

making tracks, running to the end of hunger.

 

For this is what happened: We stood nailed to the ground

when the walls disintegrated, the decay began, turned

our faces to the sun, waiting in queues for water

until the first ones died. Weeping, the neighbours left.

I did not want to leave the spot where the children lay.

You said: life is being able to move, you’re not some thing.

 

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