Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Hans Faverey

Where the apricot tree

Where the apricot tree
stood still then
I stand still now.
 
Between the gladioli
I know the spot
where she stood then:
she threw me the apricot −
then. Now,
 
as memory does with itself
what it will, we begin
biting once more, almost
in unison, between
 
the maize plants: she her
apricot, I my apricot;
 
while the little foxes still prowl
through the vineyard, and the sea,
whispering: she is not with me;
no, you will not find it here;
she is not in me.

Waar stil toen

Waar stil toen
de abrikozeboom stond,
sta nu ik stil.
 
Tussen de gladiolen
weet ik de plek waar
zij toen stond: zij
wierp mij de abrikoos
toe − toen. Nu,
 
terwijl herinnering met zich
doet wat zij wil, beginnen
wij opnieuw met bijten,
haast tegelijk, tussen
 
de maïsplanten: zij in haar
abrikoos, ik in mijn abrikoos;
 
terwijl de kleine vossen nog door
de wijngaard sluipen, en de zee,
fluisterend: bij mij is zij niet;
nee, hier vind je het niet;
in mij is zij niet.
Close

Where the apricot tree

Where the apricot tree
stood still then
I stand still now.
 
Between the gladioli
I know the spot
where she stood then:
she threw me the apricot −
then. Now,
 
as memory does with itself
what it will, we begin
biting once more, almost
in unison, between
 
the maize plants: she her
apricot, I my apricot;
 
while the little foxes still prowl
through the vineyard, and the sea,
whispering: she is not with me;
no, you will not find it here;
she is not in me.

Where the apricot tree

Where the apricot tree
stood still then
I stand still now.
 
Between the gladioli
I know the spot
where she stood then:
she threw me the apricot −
then. Now,
 
as memory does with itself
what it will, we begin
biting once more, almost
in unison, between
 
the maize plants: she her
apricot, I my apricot;
 
while the little foxes still prowl
through the vineyard, and the sea,
whispering: she is not with me;
no, you will not find it here;
she is not in 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