Poem
Jan Glas
CHINESE
Mr M. has already lived more thanthirty years on the fourth floor
of Buttercup Block
and been through a thing or two
and feels that Chinese ought never
get to live on the ground floor,
but live always up top
on the uppermost storey,
because of the strange cooking and frying smells
that all day long
reek up the staircase,
and you never know
how many are living there
and Chinese are quite bland.
Mr M. has a large collection
of European blackout paper
from the Second World War.
Each country had its own paper.
Last week in Assen
from eight floors up
a Chinese fell to his death out a window.
‘Ups-a-daisy,’ says Mr M.
© Translation: 2013, John Irons
CHINEZEN
Meneer M. woont al meer dandertig jaar op de vierde verdieping
van de Ranonkelflat
en heeft al heel wat meegemaakt
en vindt dat Chinezen nooit
op de begane grond mogen wonen,
maar altijd bovenin
op de hoogste verdieping,
vanwege de vreemde kook- en braadluchten
die de hele dag door
in het trappenhuis omhoog walmen,
je weet ook nooit
hoeveel er wonen
en Chinezen zijn sfeerloos.
Meneer M. heeft een grote verzameling
Europees verduisteringspapier
uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Elk land had ander papier.
Vorige week is er in Assen
van acht hoog
een Chinees uit een raam doodgevallen.
‘Hupsakee,’ zegt meneer M.
© Vertaling: 2013, Jan Glas
CHINEZEN
Meneer M. woont al meer asdareg joar op de vaaierde
verdaipen van de Ranonkelflat
en het al hail wat mitmoakt
en viendt dat Chinezen nooit
op de begoane grond wonen maggen,
mor altied bovenien
op hoogste verdaipen,
wegens de vrimde kook- en broadluchten
dij de haile dag deur
t trappenhoes omhoog kwaalmen,
je waiten ook nooit
houveul der wonen
en Chinezen binnen sfeerloos.
Meneer M. het n grode verzoameln
Europees verduusternspapier
oet Twijde Wereldoorlog.
Elk laand haar ander papier.
Veurege week is der ien Azzen
van aacht hoog
n Chinees oet n roam doodvalen.
‘Hupsakee,’ zegt meneer M.
© 2012, Jan Glas
From: Dubbel Glas
Publisher: Uitgeverij kleine Uil, Groningen
From: Dubbel Glas
Publisher: Uitgeverij kleine Uil, Groningen
Poems
Poems of Jan Glas
Close
CHINESE
Mr M. has already lived more thanthirty years on the fourth floor
of Buttercup Block
and been through a thing or two
and feels that Chinese ought never
get to live on the ground floor,
but live always up top
on the uppermost storey,
because of the strange cooking and frying smells
that all day long
reek up the staircase,
and you never know
how many are living there
and Chinese are quite bland.
Mr M. has a large collection
of European blackout paper
from the Second World War.
Each country had its own paper.
Last week in Assen
from eight floors up
a Chinese fell to his death out a window.
‘Ups-a-daisy,’ says Mr M.
© 2013, John Irons
From: Dubbel Glas
From: Dubbel Glas
CHINESE
Mr M. has already lived more thanthirty years on the fourth floor
of Buttercup Block
and been through a thing or two
and feels that Chinese ought never
get to live on the ground floor,
but live always up top
on the uppermost storey,
because of the strange cooking and frying smells
that all day long
reek up the staircase,
and you never know
how many are living there
and Chinese are quite bland.
Mr M. has a large collection
of European blackout paper
from the Second World War.
Each country had its own paper.
Last week in Assen
from eight floors up
a Chinese fell to his death out a window.
‘Ups-a-daisy,’ says Mr M.
© 2013, John Irons
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