Poem
Eva Gerlach
ASPHALT
Just now the barge for Haarlempassed through the street. Along the pavement
towed the scrawny horses with the lad and in
the middle of the road my grandpa’s grand
father cleft the waters. Don’t leave me
behind here I cried through the window
from where I saw them pass, I can’t just stay
here on my own, but borne along they took
the turn left to the park. The asphalt
closed up, from depths that I’d clearly seen
streaming, reflecting and
rushing, no fish leapt. Let’s hope
I thought that with still liquid tide they’ll
get to where they would be bound tonight.
Everything lay as it always lay.
You arrived, quite late, parked
carelessly as usual, took your case
from the car and standing there on the
solid asphalt looked straight up at me.
© Translation: 2006, John Irons
Asfalt
Asfalt
Zojuist trok de schuit naarHaarlem door de straat. Over de stoep
joegen de magere paarden met de knecht
en midden op de weg kliefde mijn opa’s
grootvader water. Laat me
hier niet achter riep ik door het raam
vanwaar ik ze zag gaan, ik kan hier niet zo
in mijn eentje blijven staan, maar zij
meegevoerd door haast namen de bocht
linksom naar het park. Het asfalt sloot zich,
uit de diepte die ik duidelijk
had zien stromen, spiegelen en
bruisen, sprong geen vis. Het is te hopen
dacht ik dat zij nog met vloeibaar tij
komen waar zij moeten zijn vannacht.
Alles lag zoals het altijd lag.
Jij kwam aan, het was al laat, parkeerde
slordig als gewoonlijk, nam je tas
uit de auto en keek staande op het
dichte asfalt recht omhoog naar mij.
© 2003, Eva Gerlach
From: Daar ligt het
Publisher: De Arbeiderspers, Amsterdam
From: Daar ligt het
Publisher: De Arbeiderspers, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of Eva Gerlach
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ASPHALT
Just now the barge for Haarlempassed through the street. Along the pavement
towed the scrawny horses with the lad and in
the middle of the road my grandpa’s grand
father cleft the waters. Don’t leave me
behind here I cried through the window
from where I saw them pass, I can’t just stay
here on my own, but borne along they took
the turn left to the park. The asphalt
closed up, from depths that I’d clearly seen
streaming, reflecting and
rushing, no fish leapt. Let’s hope
I thought that with still liquid tide they’ll
get to where they would be bound tonight.
Everything lay as it always lay.
You arrived, quite late, parked
carelessly as usual, took your case
from the car and standing there on the
solid asphalt looked straight up at me.
© 2006, John Irons
From: Daar ligt het
From: Daar ligt het
ASPHALT
Just now the barge for Haarlempassed through the street. Along the pavement
towed the scrawny horses with the lad and in
the middle of the road my grandpa’s grand
father cleft the waters. Don’t leave me
behind here I cried through the window
from where I saw them pass, I can’t just stay
here on my own, but borne along they took
the turn left to the park. The asphalt
closed up, from depths that I’d clearly seen
streaming, reflecting and
rushing, no fish leapt. Let’s hope
I thought that with still liquid tide they’ll
get to where they would be bound tonight.
Everything lay as it always lay.
You arrived, quite late, parked
carelessly as usual, took your case
from the car and standing there on the
solid asphalt looked straight up at me.
© 2006, John Irons
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