TIMEezine at l'atelier bonita
established since december 2002
ONCE
UPON a
TIME
ezine at l'atelier bonita
established since december 2002
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Boerentorengedicht
(Farmerstower Poem) Original poem by Tom Lanoye Translated by Geert Schuermans Photographs by Heather M. Borstel © 2004 Antwerp is the World Book Capital 2004 and therefore also wanted to do something with poetry. The city has 2 tall buildings (slightely over 100m, I know ;-), but for our standards that is really tall) They stand at about 200m from each other. The tallest is the cathedral. A very feminine (because of it's grace) gothic building. The other one is an ordinary skyscrapper. It was built in 1930 in art deco style. It is considered by most as the first 'skyscraper' in Europe. The Antwerpians call it the 'Boerentoren' (= farmers tower) because the farmers were the most important clients of the Kredietbank (the bank that owns it) in the first half of the 20th century. Now the idea is that the farmers tower fell in love with the cathedral; to declare his love he wrote poem (of which the last part is now written on a giant screen that is hanging on the tower). He, the peasant and harbour of a bank, clearly feels inferior to her divine (literally) grace. His feeling his right because in the end she refuses him (that last part was explained in a cool evening spectacle). Anyway I have translated the poem (which is by Tom Lanoye, Flanders' most important contemporary writter and offical city poet of Antwerp) called 'Boerentorengedicht' (Farmerstower poem). I borrowed 2 pictures (of both towers) Heather took while she was here. - Geert Schuermans. 
waarom vertoef ik PLOMP why do I stand cumbersomely lost in your slender shadow side your brodery of stone as tower not good enough as lover not old enough verleent DESALNIETTEMIN Isn’t it for all that the unwieldy who gives grace to beauty and isn’t the inelegant the one who’s most suited to admire elegance
therefore aren’t you and I - that bluntly born square of greed that ponderous peasant through your appearance - nevertheless made for each other
accept me take me look at me decide to start your everyday and night with me just look at me fall for me don’t hold yourself back 
_______________ Heather M. Borstel was born in San Francisco, California, at the dawn of the 1970s. She lives in the shadow of Twin Peaks, went to Catholic school and San Francisco State University, and is of average height, build and appearance. She enjoys contract bridge, falconry, Gandhian nonviolence and whipping up a nice pot of Vegetable Medley. Her favorite song is "Superstar" by the Carpenters, which she sings without shame at karaoke bars, and her favorite book is Anna Karenina. Heather was once said to have a wit which rivals that of Bennett Serf by her third grade teacher, but she has yet to find any evidence that Bennett Serf was witty. She has never had the stigmata, curses like a stevedore, and makes a mean White Russian. Heather would like the phrase "I told you I was sick!" chiseled on her tombstone. Geert Schuermans is an academic researcher and faculty member at the University of Antwerp where he obtained an advanced degree in Political and Social Science with specialisation in International Relations. His publications include "Asian Values: The Relation between Religion and Democracy" and "Globalisation and Fragmentation: Policies of Civilisations." Geert, who enjoys cold Belgian beer, steamy steak frites and Paul Auster's "New York Trilogy," is a resident of Antwerp. |
ONCE
UPON
a TIME
ezine at l'atelier bonita
established
since december 2002