BRUGES, BRUGES
written with Owen Davis
(1975)

The poem was written in three days. The handmade 1st edition of 125 copies (1975) was created with the help of Fanz Van Boxelaer, Johan Monballieu, Maria and Christine Lefever (cover design). It was sold on the streets and in the markets of Bruges.

Juan Vives lives!

We saw him in Valencia
at Christmas, same as ever,
dreaming of orange-blossom girls
in Flemish classrooms long ago

My schoolday visions
far from Spain
follow their mistress
as she moves
from bloom to bloom
in a dim Aquarian room

Raindrops sprinkled from her hand
pierce me to the brainy root

My soul puts out a leafy shoot
& breathes against the window pane
to all who pass
the poems I have bottled in Venetian glass.

...

The Orion Press edition Bruges / Brugge came about with the addition of Herman Ley's Dutch translation and the artwork of Horst De Blaere and Linda Salva.

Juan Vives leeft!

met Kerstmis zagen we hem in Valencia,
geen haar veranderd,
dromend van vlassen meisjes
aan Vlaamse lessenaars lang geleden

mijn eigen schoolvisioenen
volgen ver nu van Spanje
hun liefste waterjuf
zoals van plant tot plant ze drijft
in de huisen van de waterman

de regendruppels van haar hand
dringen diep in mijn grijze wortel door

Mijn ziel loopt uit in jong gewas
ademt aan het raam voor alle passanten
de verzen die rijpten in venetiaans glas.

...