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