Bio
Sven Kretzschmar hails from Germany. His poetry has been published widely in Europe and overseas, among other outlets in Writing Home. The 'New Irish' Poets (Dedalus Press, 2019), Hold Open the Door (UCD Press, 2020), Voices 2021 (Cold River Press, 2021) The Irish Times, and Das Gedicht. He was awarded 2nd place at the Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Award 2022.
Sven Kretzschmar
The kitchen sink
after Danilo Pockrandt
Evening comes sneaking through bramble thickets,
a shallow stream whispering its way under Elm trees
waving softly on the wind. Squinting
in golden kitchen sunshine I remember the door
gently clicking shut and how my hands
rested in dishwater. Her leaving coincided with the start
of summer. Dark crowds around me since
as if someone had turned off sound and lamps.
Where swallows were flitting, bats can hardly be sensed.
Silence and wrinkled fingertips. Words are still warm
lying under my tongue.