Untitled poems from ‘This isnt happening’ (Oslo Tiden Norsk Forlag, 2017)
By Ida Lórien Ringdal
Translated from the Norwegian by Kristine B. Fostervold
im not checking my phone
i watch game of thrones
im not checking my phone
i go out and buy some pepsi max
im not checking my phone
its on the bed
im not checking my phone
i drink until it hurts to swallow
im not checking my phone
i take a long walk
im not checking my phone
theres rain or maybe a snowstorm
or the apocalypse or just some drizzle
im not checking my phone
its day or maybe night
im not checking my phone
im home
im not checking my phone
i check my phone
nothing
what do you do
when youre not with me
when youre not thinking of me
when youre not missing me
i should be checking in to a psychiatric unit but
im not checking my phone
i check my phone
if my thoughts
had feet
they wouldve made
a path
over to you
we cant keep
not meeting
like this
a best friend
with cherub cheeks
and dirt under their fingernails
is a stranger
with crows feet
and a baby in their arms
abracadabra
whispers time
and takes a bow
i dread the day when its no longer cute
to be broke
to not know what im doing with my life
to not want kids
and that the only so called adulting ive done
is keep my monstera plant alive for 5 years
These poems are taken from ‘Voices from the Outside: UEA MA Translation Anthology’. The full anthology can be purchased from Egg Box Publishing.
