poems

As a continuation of exploring counter-point/juxtapostion in poetry to create a kind of dialogue in the reader’s mind, these are experiments to find out whether a title – or what presents itself as a title typographically – could function as a first line in a poem. Normally we read the title as a more or less comprehensive catch-phrase of what the text below it will reveal, but in this case the following phrase/poem will be in juxtaposition to what the title proposes. The basic presumption is that “the space” between the two parts creates a room for the reader to enter. I hope it works.

…*…

THE LONGEST DAY EVER RECORDED
when you turn your head the pain subsides

.

DEN LÆNGSTE DAG DER NOGENSINDE ER MÅLT

når du drejer hovedet aftager smerten

:

THE DENTIST ISN’T IN TODAY

I’ve only seen the Eiffel Tower

.

TANDLÆGEN ER HER IKKE I DAG

jeg har kun set Eiffeltårnet

:

FRIDAY

have you noticed the nails are bleeding?

.

FREDAG

har Du lagt mærke til at sømmene bløder?

:

YOU LOOK AT THE COBWEB IN THE CEILING AND SIGH

it’s no use
the pizza
sleeps

DU SER PÅ SPINDELVÆVET I LOFTET OG SUKKER

det nytter ikke noget
pizzaen
sover

:

ELEGY

she always tries to smile backwards

.

ELEGI

hun prøver altid at smile baglæns

:

NOT YOU, YOU CAN’T SHUT UP

every drop
’s full
of rain

.

IKKE DIG, DU KAN IKKE HOLDE KÆFT

enhver dråbe
r fuld
af regn

poem / digt 13-03-24

the right
hand

the right
hand

pauses

mid
air

the right
hand

holds
a cloud

and
forgets

.

the left
hand

the left
hand

pauses

mid
air

the left
hand

holds
a cloud

and
forgets

::::::

den højre
hånd

den højre
hånd

standser

i
luften

den højre
hånd

holder
en sky

og
glemmer

.

den venstre
hånd

den venstre
hånd

standser

i
luften

den venstre
hånd

holder
en sky

og
glemmer