Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Leonard Nolens

Tell the children we’re no good 4

Tell the people, tell my relations
And friends I’m no good at relations
And friends. Tell a dead couple who made me
That I stayed ungrateful, implausibly
Phoney, a stranger at every birthday.

A child is ancient. I’ve lived for so long.

I’ve been here forever, so much longer
Than you with your threadbare manners, your ladies’
And gentlemen’s clothes. I run on ahead
With my rattle, my riddle, I’m too quick for you.
From time out of mind, you’ve been losing me.

Zeg aan de kinderen dat wij niet deugen 4

Zeg aan de kinderen dat wij niet deugen 4

Zeg aan de mensen, zeg aan familie
En vrienden dat ik niet deug voor familie
En vrienden. Vertel een dood paar dat mij maakte
Dat ik ondankbaar bleef, ondenkbaar
Onecht, onherkenbaar op elke verjaardag.

Een kind is stokoud. Ik besta al zo lang.

Ik ga al een eeuwigheid mee, zoveel langer
Dan u met uw sleetse manieren, uw kleren
Van dames en heren. Ik ren voor u uit
Met mijn ratel, mijn raadsel, ik ben u te snel.
U raakt mij sinds mensenheugenis kwijt.
Close

Tell the children we’re no good 4

Tell the people, tell my relations
And friends I’m no good at relations
And friends. Tell a dead couple who made me
That I stayed ungrateful, implausibly
Phoney, a stranger at every birthday.

A child is ancient. I’ve lived for so long.

I’ve been here forever, so much longer
Than you with your threadbare manners, your ladies’
And gentlemen’s clothes. I run on ahead
With my rattle, my riddle, I’m too quick for you.
From time out of mind, you’ve been losing me.

Tell the children we’re no good 4

Tell the people, tell my relations
And friends I’m no good at relations
And friends. Tell a dead couple who made me
That I stayed ungrateful, implausibly
Phoney, a stranger at every birthday.

A child is ancient. I’ve lived for so long.

I’ve been here forever, so much longer
Than you with your threadbare manners, your ladies’
And gentlemen’s clothes. I run on ahead
With my rattle, my riddle, I’m too quick for you.
From time out of mind, you’ve been losing me.
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