Featured Poem
Showing and Tripping
Translation by Astrid Alben
It takes intense bliss in this dress to look at neighbours stashing
their rubbish bag in a container around midnight with tenderness.
It takes intense bliss in this dress to flag down a taxi unwilling
to take you to the edge of the city where broad-leaved trees propagate.
It takes intense bliss in this dress to make a sound that drowns out
animals to catch the attention of a dolled-up queen.
It takes intense bliss for this dress to be carried to a show drunk
and wide awake, blindly find the door through which to exit the stage.
It takes intense bliss in this dress to pop one, go on a balloon ride
and look down on the mosaic of your country like a slow astronaut.
It takes intense bliss in this glorious weather to be killed with care.
Voices scream instead of dress say shroud.
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- About the translation:
- » Read translator's notes
- Poet:
- Anne Vegter
- Translator:
- Astrid Alben
- Original language:
- Dutch
- Issue:
- 2014 Number 2 - The Constellation
About the author
Original poet
Anne Vegter
Anne Vegter is the author of numerous children’s books, theatre monologues, erotic stories and poetry collections. Her most re...
» Read moreTranslator
Astrid Alben
Astrid Alben has been described as ‘a new and original voice in English poetry, serious and uncompromising’. As co-founder of...
» Read moreComment
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