Saturday 19 April 2014

In the back of Sebald's 'Young Austerlitz'



I sometimes dream that one of those locked doors opens and I step through it . . . 
- Young Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald



In the back of Sebald's 'Young Austerlitz' 
 during the night 
I scribbled the words:
this world is making me dizzy
and that's very bad 
if I think of eternity 
for man is a moment

and on waking 
this thought made me hold  my breath

God forbid I should hold it 
too long 
a fellow human- 
 being a dark gypsy boy 
some poor whore's son 
with a bastard grin 
in my dream
I remember it now
that last installment 
on the bed 
unsettled
and in a white van
 away
before dawn 

here I lie   with my words on the floor


2 comments:

  1. "He saw the mountains of Switzerland in the distance and he knew everything would be all right". I think this line comes from the book.

    I think I will re-read the book. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Rings of Saturn is almost up your street!

    ReplyDelete

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