Poem
Herman Gorter
The trees were all still
*The trees were all still,
the sky was grey
the hills without will
lay in strange array.
The men were busy at toil
all about the place
as if digging treasure from soil,
though with measured pace.
Across the world’s face
things were probably alike,
the world and the human race
are scarcely alive.
I walked and watched the scene
scared and content,
below, ever loyal and keen,
my footsteps went.
© Translation: 2010, Paul Vincent
*
*
De boomen waren stil,
de lucht was grijs,
de heuvelen zonder wil
lagen op vreemde wijs.
De mannen werkten wat
rondom in de aard,
als groeven ze een schat,
maar kalm en bedaard.
Over de aarde was
waarschijnlijk alles zoo,
de wereld en \'t menschgewas
ze leven nauw.
Ik liep het aan te zien
bang en tevreden,
mijn voeten als goede lien
liepen beneden.
De boomen waren stil,
de lucht was grijs,
de heuvelen zonder wil
lagen op vreemde wijs.
De mannen werkten wat
rondom in de aard,
als groeven ze een schat,
maar kalm en bedaard.
Over de aarde was
waarschijnlijk alles zoo,
de wereld en \'t menschgewas
ze leven nauw.
Ik liep het aan te zien
bang en tevreden,
mijn voeten als goede lien
liepen beneden.
© 1977, Athenaeum - Polak & Van Gennep
From: Verzen
Publisher: Athenaeum - Polak & Van Gennep, Amsterdam
From: Verzen
Publisher: Athenaeum - Polak & Van Gennep, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Herman Gorter
Close
The trees were all still
*The trees were all still,
the sky was grey
the hills without will
lay in strange array.
The men were busy at toil
all about the place
as if digging treasure from soil,
though with measured pace.
Across the world’s face
things were probably alike,
the world and the human race
are scarcely alive.
I walked and watched the scene
scared and content,
below, ever loyal and keen,
my footsteps went.
© 2010, Paul Vincent
From: Verzen
From: Verzen
The trees were all still
*The trees were all still,
the sky was grey
the hills without will
lay in strange array.
The men were busy at toil
all about the place
as if digging treasure from soil,
though with measured pace.
Across the world’s face
things were probably alike,
the world and the human race
are scarcely alive.
I walked and watched the scene
scared and content,
below, ever loyal and keen,
my footsteps went.
© 2010, Paul Vincent
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