THE SLIPPER

One day a few months ago
an old woman appeared
at the entrance of the underground station.
She was begging.

Her clothes were torn but white as white.
She reminded me of my grandmother:
her eyes full of fear,
her last days.

Each time I passed by her
I made a habit of saying ‘Good morning,’
and giving her some bread or money.
She never said a word.

The other day I tried to say more,
she looked, but obviously didn’t understand.
She took what I gave her,
turned her head the other way.

When I passed by yesterday,
she wasn’t at her usual place,
on the ground I saw a single slipper
in faded pink, sequined, on its left side

a blood-red plastic heart.
Tiny and glittering.
As if it would, at any moment
start beating.

SLIPPER

Ineens zag ik een oude vrouw
bij de ingang van het metrostation
een paar maanden geleden.
Ze zat te bedelen.

Gescheurd, maar hagelwit waren haar kleren.
Ze deed me aan mijn oma denken:
aan haar ogen vol angst,
haar laatste dagen.

Ik wende me aan telkens als ik langsliep
‘Goedemorgen’ te zeggen en ofwel brood
of geld te geven.
Ze zei geen woord terug.

Ik probeerde laatst wat te zeggen,
ze keek, maar ze begreep het duidelijk niet.
Ze nam aan wat ik gaf
en keek van me weg.

Toen ik er gisteren langskwam, zat ze er niet.
Op de grond zag ik een enkele slipper.
Bleek roze, met schilfers
en op zijn linkerkant

een bloedrood plastic hart
Piepklein, glimmend.
Alsof het ieder moment
zou kunnen gaan kloppen.

TERLİK

Yaşlı bir kadın beliriverdi bir gün
metro istasyonunun girişinde
birkaç ay önce.
Dileniyordu.

Yırtık, ama bembeyazdı giysileri.
Babaannemi anımsattı bana:
korku dolu gözlerini,
son günlerini.

Adet edindim her geçtiğimde
‘Günaydın’ demeyi, ya ekmek
ya para vermeyi.
Tek kelime etmedi.

Bir şeyler diyecek oldum geçende,
baktı, belliydi ama anlamadığı.
Verdiklerimi aldı,
kafasını çevirdi.

Dün geçtiğimde yerinde yoktu.
Tek bir terlik gördüm yerde.
Soluk pembe, pullu,
sol kenarında

kan kırmızı plastik bir kalp.
Küçücük, pırıl pırıl.
Her an sanki
atacakmış gibiydi.