after Dorien de Wit
in the beginning there were days
your emails I saved unread in the junk folder
between Mr Bill Gates says Hello,
Michael Kors Handbags,
Hot Girls, Hello
on Google Maps I’ve found the secret
an island called Mainland
for weeks in my purse I’ve been carrying a book about the man
who thought up cloud classification
I was so happy that clouds fit into a structure
what should I say when I see you?
the most important thing is
to jump in at the right moment
like back in the day in the schoolyard
when I still collected pencil shavings and discovered
that popcorn is corn kernels turned inside out
explosions are beautiful but their shape is unpredictable
through this country there runs a growing fault line
you said with a distant gaze
in your eyes I saw myself and the landscape mirrored
searching where the tearing began.
Tom Cruise has decreed in a contract
that one can’t look straight at him
there’s something in his eyes
or is it because looking
is a kind of touching
Another poem by Dutch poet Dorien de Wit. I like translating her work. I haven’t figured out her thought process yet, but I like her imagery and currentness. The original poem can be found here.
Tender Rebellion 
Responses
What a beautifully layered and deep poem! Thanks for transating it Conny!
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Thanks for reading it Dominic. I like these meandering poems. It’s like a collection of thoughts prompted by something. The clue is the title, I think. It’s a very clever way of writing.
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Hmmm. My pleasure Conny!
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What an absorbing poem! Translating it had to be a delightful challenge. I love the line “explosions are beautiful but their shape is unpredictable.”
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That’s my favourite line as well. And I love that it comes after the pop corn line. It’s the jump from something ordinary to something metaphysical that makes that line stand out even more!
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Sophisticated and elevated writing, Conny. An enjoyable read!
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Thanks so much Michele! Translation is really helping with my own poetry!
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How wonderful! 😊
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Love a good poem that makes me stop, think, and then ponder meaning in everything around me.
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Yes! I think it’s the combination of ordinary observations, pop culture, science and emotional imagery that makes this poem so unique and effective.
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