Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Hanny Michaelis

Years later

Years later
one clear afternoon
full of sober sounds
and the hustle and bustle in a house
that never knew you,
I suddenly remember
how gentle your eyes would become
when you looked me in the face.

And for a moment you appear before me,
unmistakably yourself, coming across unexpectedly
out of timelessness.
So gentle are your eyes
that they reconcile me
to your departure, swifter
and more unexpected than your arrival.

Jaren later

Jaren later
op een heldere middag
vol nuchtere geluiden
en bezigheden in een huis
dat je nooit heeft gekend,
herinner ik mij plotseling
hoe zacht je ogen werden
als je me aankeek.

En even verschijn je mij
ten voeten uit, onverwacht
overgekomen uit het tijdloze.
Zo zacht zijn je ogen
dat ze mij verzoenen
met je weggaan, sneller
en onverwachter dan je komst.
Close

Years later

Years later
one clear afternoon
full of sober sounds
and the hustle and bustle in a house
that never knew you,
I suddenly remember
how gentle your eyes would become
when you looked me in the face.

And for a moment you appear before me,
unmistakably yourself, coming across unexpectedly
out of timelessness.
So gentle are your eyes
that they reconcile me
to your departure, swifter
and more unexpected than your arrival.

Years later

Years later
one clear afternoon
full of sober sounds
and the hustle and bustle in a house
that never knew you,
I suddenly remember
how gentle your eyes would become
when you looked me in the face.

And for a moment you appear before me,
unmistakably yourself, coming across unexpectedly
out of timelessness.
So gentle are your eyes
that they reconcile me
to your departure, swifter
and more unexpected than your arrival.
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