Poem
Jan Glas
ORDER
First there was sittingand 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.
© Translation: 2013, John Irons
VOLGORDE
Eerst was er zittenen 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.
© Vertaling: 2009, Jan Glas
From: Zo is t nait goan / Zo is het niet gegaan
Publisher: 2009, Philip Elchers, Groningen
From: Zo is t nait goan / Zo is het niet gegaan
Publisher: 2009, Philip Elchers, Groningen
VOLGORDE
Eerst was der zittenen 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.
© 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
ORDER
First there was sittingand 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.
© 2013, John Irons
From: Dubbel Glas
From: Dubbel Glas
ORDER
First there was sittingand 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.
© 2013, John Irons
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