Poem
Remco Campert
LIGHT
We wanted light more lightso we cut the tree down its longing
stood in the way of ours
creaking groaning screeching
and with a furious swish of leaves
its last splinters sundered
and down came the tree –
the wind that had played on it
fled in panic
At last we had light in our room
in that light we gazed at each other
and saw our irreparable face
© Translation: 2007, Donald Gardner
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: Arc Publications, Todmorden, 2007
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: Arc Publications, Todmorden, 2007
LICHT
LICHT
We wilden licht meer lichtwe kapten de boom die in zijn eigen verlangen
ons verlangen in de weg stond
de boom kermde kreunde kraakte
zijn laatste vezel scheurde
met een woedend ruisen van zijn blaadjes
sleurde hij zijn leven neer –
de wind die hem bespeeld had
week geschrokken uit
Eindelijk hadden we licht in de kamer
in dat licht keken we elkaar aan
en zagen ons onherstelbare gezicht
From: Nieuwe herinneringen
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Remco Campert
Close
LIGHT
We wanted light more lightso we cut the tree down its longing
stood in the way of ours
creaking groaning screeching
and with a furious swish of leaves
its last splinters sundered
and down came the tree –
the wind that had played on it
fled in panic
At last we had light in our room
in that light we gazed at each other
and saw our irreparable face
© 2007, Donald Gardner
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc Publications, Todmorden
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc Publications, Todmorden
LIGHT
We wanted light more lightso we cut the tree down its longing
stood in the way of ours
creaking groaning screeching
and with a furious swish of leaves
its last splinters sundered
and down came the tree –
the wind that had played on it
fled in panic
At last we had light in our room
in that light we gazed at each other
and saw our irreparable face
© 2007, Donald Gardner
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc Publications, Todmorden
From: I Dreamed in the Cities at Night
Publisher: 2007, Arc Publications, Todmorden
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