Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jan Glas

BEFORE THE BEGINNING

Timid folk with words from before the beginning.
We didn’t need to think up life.
Everything was already there.
We were already there
and the pig eventually devoured everything.
 
We gave the things a name.
Between the things there was nothing for us.
There wasn’t much to be done about that.
 
Writing was unnecessary,
we could remember all our words
with ease.

VEUR T BEGUN

Een schuchter volk met woorden van voor het begin.
Wij hoefden het leven niet te bedenken.
Alles was er al.
Wij waren er al
en het varken vrat uiteindelijk alles op.

Wij hebben de dingen een naam gegeven.
Tussen de dingen was er voor ons niks.
Daar was verder niet veel aan te doen.

Het schrift was niet nodig,
we konden al onze woorden
met gemak onthouden.

VEUR T BEGUN

n Bleu volk mit woorden van veur t begun.
Wie hufden t leven nait te bedenken.
Alles was der al.
Wie waren der al
en t swien vrat oetindelk alles op.
 
Wie hemmen de dingen n noam geven.
Tussen de dingen was der veur ons niks.
Doar was verder nait veul aan te doun.
 
t Schrift was nait neudeg,
wie konden aal onze woorden
mit gemak ontholden.
Close

BEFORE THE BEGINNING

Timid folk with words from before the beginning.
We didn’t need to think up life.
Everything was already there.
We were already there
and the pig eventually devoured everything.
 
We gave the things a name.
Between the things there was nothing for us.
There wasn’t much to be done about that.
 
Writing was unnecessary,
we could remember all our words
with ease.

BEFORE THE BEGINNING

Timid folk with words from before the beginning.
We didn’t need to think up life.
Everything was already there.
We were already there
and the pig eventually devoured everything.
 
We gave the things a name.
Between the things there was nothing for us.
There wasn’t much to be done about that.
 
Writing was unnecessary,
we could remember all our words
with ease.
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