Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jan Glas

ORDER

First there was sitting
and then there was chair.
In that order of language.
As simple as that.
 
From bending forwards you
could get a nosebleed,
no one knew why you got it.
 
Behind her counter Mrs Kelder
could suddenly, just like that,
fall backwards headlong out of life
and no one knew why that was.
 
Whenever you rang the shop-door bell,
she’d come to again.
As simple as that.
In that order.

VOLGORDE

Eerst was er zitten
en toen was er stoel.
In die volgorde van taal.
Zo simpel als wat.
 
Je kon van vooroverbukken
een bloedneus krijgen,
niemand wist hoe dat kwam.
 
Vrouw Kelder kon zomaar ineens
achter haar toonbank
steil achterover uit het leven vallen,
en niemand wist hoe dat kwam.
 
Wanneer je de winkelbel liet rinkelen,
kwam ze weer bij.
Zo simpel als wat.
In die volgorde.

VOLGORDE

Eerst was der zitten
en toun was der stoul.
Ien dij volgorde van toal.
Zo simpel as wat.
 
Je konnen van veuroverbukken
n bloudneus kriegen,
genain wis hou dat kwam.
 
Vraauw Kelder kon zomor ienainen
achter heur teunbaank
staail achterover oet t leven valen,
en genain wis woarom dat was.
 
As je winkeldeur op bel zetten,
kwam ze weer bie.
Zo simpel as wat.
Ien dij volgorde.
Close

ORDER

First there was sitting
and then there was chair.
In that order of language.
As simple as that.
 
From bending forwards you
could get a nosebleed,
no one knew why you got it.
 
Behind her counter Mrs Kelder
could suddenly, just like that,
fall backwards headlong out of life
and no one knew why that was.
 
Whenever you rang the shop-door bell,
she’d come to again.
As simple as that.
In that order.

ORDER

First there was sitting
and then there was chair.
In that order of language.
As simple as that.
 
From bending forwards you
could get a nosebleed,
no one knew why you got it.
 
Behind her counter Mrs Kelder
could suddenly, just like that,
fall backwards headlong out of life
and no one knew why that was.
 
Whenever you rang the shop-door bell,
she’d come to again.
As simple as that.
In that order.
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