Poem
Herman De Coninck
Sleep now
“Go to sleep now,” I sayto a daughter who is already asleep
and wakes from my words.
The thunder crashes. Perhaps
I want her scared, so I can be dad.
But there’s nothing I can do except
do nothing, together with her.
It’s like words. Things happen.
Without words they would still happen.
But then without words.
© Translation: 2008, David Colmer
\'Slaap maar,\' zeg ik
\'Slaap maar,\' zeg ik
“Slaap maar,” zeg iktegen een dochter die allang slaapt
en daar wakker van wordt.
Het onweert. Misschien wil ik wel
dat zij bang is, dan kan ik vader zijn.
Maar ik kan niets anders dan samen met haar
niets kunnen.
Zoals woorden. De dingen gebeuren.
Zonder woorden zouden ze ook gebeuren.
Maar dan zonder woorden.
© 1991, The estate of Herman de Coninck
From: De Gedichten
Publisher: De Arbeiderspers, Amsterdam
From: De Gedichten
Publisher: De Arbeiderspers, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Herman De Coninck
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Sleep now
“Go to sleep now,” I sayto a daughter who is already asleep
and wakes from my words.
The thunder crashes. Perhaps
I want her scared, so I can be dad.
But there’s nothing I can do except
do nothing, together with her.
It’s like words. Things happen.
Without words they would still happen.
But then without words.
© 2008, David Colmer
From: De Gedichten
From: De Gedichten
Sleep now
“Go to sleep now,” I sayto a daughter who is already asleep
and wakes from my words.
The thunder crashes. Perhaps
I want her scared, so I can be dad.
But there’s nothing I can do except
do nothing, together with her.
It’s like words. Things happen.
Without words they would still happen.
But then without words.
© 2008, David Colmer
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