Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Gert Vlok Nel

Hillside Lullaby

I live here in the town where the trains whistle
& the shunters shift the trains around on tracks
day & night
& I’m very much all right
do you remember when you were going to live with me . . .
how did our story go from there?
trains that shunt, trains that stay
trains that always ride in circles here

dream of me & leave me free tonight

this morning early there was a loud bang
down there on that side of the railway bridge
but everything was very much all right
it’s only me I long for you so much
& in the meantime everything frightens me
all the words lie empty in my hand
because my heart sleeps with you where the trains
shunt

dream of me & leave me free tonight

HILLSIDE SLAAPLIEDJE

ik woon hier in het dorp waar de treinen fluiten
& de rangeerders nacht na nacht treinen op
de sporen zetten
& met mij gaat het heel goed
weet je nog de dag dat je bij mij zou blijven…
hoe verliep ons verhaal toen verder?
rangerende treinen. treinen die blijven
treinen die hier altijd in kringetjes rond blijven rijden

droom over me & en laat me vrij vannacht

vanochtend vroeg was er een harde klap
daar onder aan de kant van de spoorbrug
maar er was helemaal niks aan de hand
het is alleen dat ik zo naar je verlang
& ondertussen maakt alles me bang
al mijn woorden liggen leeg in mijn hand
want mijn hart slaapt bij jou waar de treinen
rangeren.

droom over me & laat me vrij vannacht

Hillside Lullaby

ek bly hier in die dorp waar die treine fluit
& die sjanters nag na nag die treine op
spore skuif
& ek is heel allright
onthou die dag toe jy by my sou bly . . .
hoe het ons storie toe verder verloop?
Treine wat sjant, treine wat bly
treine wat altyd hier in kringe ry.

droom van my & laat my vry vannag

vanoggend vroeg was daar ’n harde slag
onder by die kant van die railwaybrug
maar als was heel allright
dit is net dat ek so na jou verlang
& in die meantime maak alles my bang
al my woorde lê leeg in my hand
want my hart slaap by jou waar die treine
sjant.

droom van my & laat my vry vannag
Close

Hillside Lullaby

I live here in the town where the trains whistle
& the shunters shift the trains around on tracks
day & night
& I’m very much all right
do you remember when you were going to live with me . . .
how did our story go from there?
trains that shunt, trains that stay
trains that always ride in circles here

dream of me & leave me free tonight

this morning early there was a loud bang
down there on that side of the railway bridge
but everything was very much all right
it’s only me I long for you so much
& in the meantime everything frightens me
all the words lie empty in my hand
because my heart sleeps with you where the trains
shunt

dream of me & leave me free tonight

Hillside Lullaby

I live here in the town where the trains whistle
& the shunters shift the trains around on tracks
day & night
& I’m very much all right
do you remember when you were going to live with me . . .
how did our story go from there?
trains that shunt, trains that stay
trains that always ride in circles here

dream of me & leave me free tonight

this morning early there was a loud bang
down there on that side of the railway bridge
but everything was very much all right
it’s only me I long for you so much
& in the meantime everything frightens me
all the words lie empty in my hand
because my heart sleeps with you where the trains
shunt

dream of me & leave me free tonight
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère