Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Nachoem M. Wijnberg

First time

Saying you are what I have
because you will never again
have anything else.

The first time you have to behave
as if it is the first time.

Good advice you give
to the one you only
have one of.

Or a stranger to you
who asks on the street if you can spare
five minutes,
like a thousand times
before.

The joy of suddenly being able
to see more deeply
is lightness.

That becomes free fall when
it no longer matters what
you do not see or hear, what
becoming on your own
is.

Eerste keer

Eerste keer

Je bent wat ik heb zeggen,
omdat je nooit meer iets anders
zal hebben.

De eerste keer moet je doen
alsof het de eerste keer is.

Goede raad die je geeft
aan wie van wie
je er maar één hebt.

Of aan jou een onbekende
die op straat vraagt of je vijf minuten
voor hem hebt, zoals het
toch duizend keer
gegaan is.

De vreugde van het plotseling dieper
kunnen zien, wat
het lichte is.

Dat vrije val wordt als het niet
meer uitmaakt wat je niet
ziet of hoort, wat
in je eentje
worden is.
Close

First time

Saying you are what I have
because you will never again
have anything else.

The first time you have to behave
as if it is the first time.

Good advice you give
to the one you only
have one of.

Or a stranger to you
who asks on the street if you can spare
five minutes,
like a thousand times
before.

The joy of suddenly being able
to see more deeply
is lightness.

That becomes free fall when
it no longer matters what
you do not see or hear, what
becoming on your own
is.

First time

Saying you are what I have
because you will never again
have anything else.

The first time you have to behave
as if it is the first time.

Good advice you give
to the one you only
have one of.

Or a stranger to you
who asks on the street if you can spare
five minutes,
like a thousand times
before.

The joy of suddenly being able
to see more deeply
is lightness.

That becomes free fall when
it no longer matters what
you do not see or hear, what
becoming on your own
is.
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