Occupational hazards
I regularly folded glue traps shut
while they still squeaked,
hit them with my flashlight
to cave in skulls, release
that might not rhyme
but got easier after so many
and you get to cry murder.
Racket fluttered to and from
young life in a nest
above shit covered chairs
on the balcony of nr. 7
This might be a verse
without mild irony or cause
but I had tiny necks to break?
It took about twenty liters
and what used to be a home
turned another junkie den
before every flea was dead.
I might miss the poetry
scene even less, with as
foul reeking and bloated meaning.
Benne van der Velde is a poet, bad playwright, former rapper/average singer and more. Always needing more. After thoroughly enjoying the Dutch slam poetry scene in the early and mid 2000s (wins in 7 cities + eventually a place in the Nationals of 2012) and performances at the Lowlands- and Parade festivals a/o, Benne successfully made the transition from the stage to paper by signing his first publishing deal etc, etc, etc.
About ‘Occupational hazards’: the poet decided to quit the Dutch stage poetry scene cold turkey over more than a decade ago. According to his wife he’s a well enough recovering ex-podium junkie, all things considered. She’s right.