Chestnut Joe

                                              a cheerful evening
                                                
                                              1. swaying
                                              ashen backs
                                              of elephants
                                              like grass in their passing
                                              shake the bushes 
                                              rip off a few branches
                                              to chew on slow and pensive
                                               
                                              2. the cook
                                              for the food
                                               
                                              3. for a westerner
                                              what westerner
                                              does not have 
 
                          		      
  
 
                                              a cheerful evening
                                              his cheerful evenings
                                               
                                              1. chestnut joe
                                               
                                              2. at the piano
                                              a whole day
                                               
                                              3. rolls back
                                              it is the cold
                                              of the night before
                                              the cold has a hold
                                              on us
                                               
                                              1. rolls back
                                              it is the cold 
 
  
 
  
                                              of the night before
                                              the cold has a hold
                                              on us
                                               
                                              2. at the piano
                                              a whole day
                                               
                                              3. chestnut joe
                                               
                                              1. I cheerfully begin
                                              once more
                                              what do we see
                                              when our eye
                                              is not constantly
                                              eclipsed
                                              by recoiling eyelid 
 
 
 
 
                                              2. the cook
                                              for the food
                                              shines likewise
                                              3. has lost
                                              meaning
                                              now that in the distance
                                              a permanent river crossing
                                              is being built
                                              1. at the end
                                              of the day
                                              when everybody wants to go home
                                              at once 
                                              2. during the building
                                              of that new bridge
                                              during gale-force winds
                                              a serious accident 
  
 
 
 
                                              a blockade
                                              of that bridge
                                              3. to the others
                                              who with grand gestures
                                              draw through the air
                                              how the bridge should be
                                              1. this time I walk into
                                              the park 
                                              from the back 
                                              even as the crowns
                                              touch each other everywhere
                                              2. I look at
                                              the other strollers
                                              only earth nameplates
                                              on stems
                                              of bare plants 
 
 
 
  
                                              it gives me pleasure
                                              to look as if
                                              there are nuts 
                                              3. not only do
                                              the surroundings disappear
                                              the object too
                                              on which initially 
                                              the attention is focused
                                              1. she is absolutely right
                                              what you have too often
                                              seen no longer works
                                              this is how monkeys play
                                              2. a double role
                                              3. until we have had enough
                                              1. by evening helicopter 
                                              they are shattered 
  
 
 
 
                                              when at last
                                              together 
                                               
                                              1. the newspaper lies about
                                               
                                              2. in the room
                                              the rest is quiet
                                               
                                              3. it is good
                                              that seldom
                                              leaves
                                              the living room
                                              of the owner
                                               
                                              1. it is good
                                              that seldom    

Kastanje Jo

Kastanje Jo

                         	een vrolijke avond
                         
                         	1. deinende 
                         	grauwe ruggen
                         	van olifanten
                         	als gras in het voorbijgaan
                         	schudden de struiken
                         	sleuren een paar takken af
                         	om bedachtzaam te vermalen
                         
                         	2. de kok
                         	voor het eten
                         
                         	3. voor een westerling
                         	welke westerling
                         	heeft niet 
						 					  
                          	 
 
	 										  
                         	een vrolijke avond
                         	zijn vrolijke avonden
                         
                         	1. kastanje jo
                         
                         	2. op de piano
                         	een hele dag
                         
                         	3. rolt terug
                         	het is de kou
                         	van de voorbije nacht
                         	de kou heeft ons
                         	te pakken
                         	
                         	1. rolt terug
                         	het is de kou 
 
                          	
 					  
	 										  
                         	van de voorbije nacht
                         	de kou heeft ons
                         	te pakken
                         	
                         	2. op de piano
                         	een hele dag
                         
                         	3. kastanje jo
                         
                         	1. ik begin
                         	vrolijk opnieuw
                         	wat zien we
                         	wanneer ons oog
                         	niet voortdurend
                         	wordt verduisterd
                         	door terugspringend ooglid 
 
                 	
 
                         										  
                         	2. de kok
                         	voor het eten
                         	glimt eveneens
                         	3. heeft aan
                         	betekenis verloren
                         	sinds in de verte
                         	een vaste oeververbinding
                         	wordt gebouwd
                         	1. aan het eind
                         	van de dag
                         	wanneer iedereen tegelijk
                         	naar huis wil
                         	2. bij de bouw
                         	van die nieuwe brug
                         	bij storm
                         	een ernstig ongeluk 
 
                          	
 
                        										  
                         	een blokkade
                         	van die brug
                         	3. aan de anderen 
                         	die met weidse gebaren
                         	in de lucht laten zien
                         	hoe de brug moet worden
                         	1. ditmaal loop ik 
                         	aan de achterkant
                         	het park in
                         	terwijl de kruinen
                         	elkaar overal raken
                         	2. ik kijk
                         	naar de andere wandelaars
                         	alleen aarde naambordjes
                         	aan stengels
                         	van kale planten 
 
                        	
 
                         
                         	het doet me plezier
                         	te kijken
                         	alsof er noten zijn
                         	3. niet alleen 
                         	de omgeving verdwijnt
                         	ook het object
                         	waarop in eerste instantie
                         	de aandacht wordt gericht
                         	1. ze heeft groot gelijk
                         	wat je te vaak hebt
                         	gezien werkt niet mee
                         	zo spelen apen
                         	2. een dubbelrol
                         	3. tot we er genoeg van hebben
                         	1. ’s avonds helikoper
                         	zijn ze kapot 
 
                         	
 
                                             
                         	eenmaal 
                         	bij elkaar
                         
                         	1. de krant slingert
                         
                         	2. door de kamer
                         	verder is het stil
                         
                         	3. mooi
                         	dat zelden
                         	de huiskamer
                         	van de eigenaar
                         	verlaat
                         
                         	1. mooi 
                         	dat zelden