Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Karel van de Woestijne

Give now, give! All the cargo’s

Give now, give! All the cargo’s
hoisted to the rigging’s height,
and the emptiness lays a gentle
sadness in the weary hand.

Give now, give! Leave the houses,
close the windows, dowse the fire;
the wide clear heavens are the sluices
for your hasty voyage out.

I’m emptied out; I’m past and gone;
my life is done; I’ve given food.
All that’s coming is my past,
since it owes its being to my plea and
laughs out of my forgotten blood.

Geven, geven! Alle vrachten

Geven, geven! Alle vrachten
rijzen in het hoogste want,
en de leêgte legt een zachten
weemoed in de moede hand.

Geven, géven! Laat de huizen,
sluit de ramen, dek den haard:
de open heemlen zijn de sluizen
voor uw ongeduld’gen vaart.

’k Ben geleêgd; ik ben verleden;
’k wórde dood: ik heb gevoed.
Al wat komt is mijn verleden,
waar \'t gewerd uit mijne bede en
lacht uit mijn vergeten bloed.
Close

Give now, give! All the cargo’s

Give now, give! All the cargo’s
hoisted to the rigging’s height,
and the emptiness lays a gentle
sadness in the weary hand.

Give now, give! Leave the houses,
close the windows, dowse the fire;
the wide clear heavens are the sluices
for your hasty voyage out.

I’m emptied out; I’m past and gone;
my life is done; I’ve given food.
All that’s coming is my past,
since it owes its being to my plea and
laughs out of my forgotten blood.

Give now, give! All the cargo’s

Give now, give! All the cargo’s
hoisted to the rigging’s height,
and the emptiness lays a gentle
sadness in the weary hand.

Give now, give! Leave the houses,
close the windows, dowse the fire;
the wide clear heavens are the sluices
for your hasty voyage out.

I’m emptied out; I’m past and gone;
my life is done; I’ve given food.
All that’s coming is my past,
since it owes its being to my plea and
laughs out of my forgotten blood.
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