Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Nyk de Vries

I DIVED INTO A BAY

I dived into a bay. I dived into a bay whose water was so murky that I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I dived deeper. I swam until I spotted light, moved towards it and surfaced in a small lake. A man was sitting on the shore. His hair was grey, his eyes were shut. His hands were clasped together in his lap and he didn’t look up until I was very close. I don’t think he was startled. He wasn’t sad either. He said, ‘This, then, is truth. It won’t buy me a house. Not even a nice car. But one day I hope that it will be enough for me to draw a crab. The most beautiful crab the world has ever seen.’

IK DOOK IN EEN BAAI

Ik dook in een baai. Ik dook in een baai waarvan het water zo troebel was dat ik geen hand voor ogen zag. Ik dook dieper. Ik zwom tot ik licht ontdekte, me naar de oppervlakte bewoog en boven kwam in een klein meer. Op de kant zat een man. Zijn haar was grijs, zijn ogen waren gesloten. Zijn handen hield hij gevouwen in zijn schoot en pas toen ik heel dichtbij hem was, keek hij op. Ik geloof niet dat hij schrok. Hij was ook niet triest. Hij zei: ‘Dit is nou wijsheid. Een huis ga ik er niet van kopen. Een mooie wagen evenmin. Maar op een dag hoop ik er een krab van te tekenen. De mooiste krab die men ooit op de wereld zag.

IK DOEK YN IN BAAI

Ik doek yn in baai. Ik doek yn in baai dêr’t it wetter sa troebel fan wie dat ik gjin hân foar eagen seach. Ik doek djipper. Ik swom oant ik ljocht ûntduts, my omheech joech en boppe kaam yn in lytse mar. Op ’e kant siet in man. Syn hier wie griis, de eagen hie er ticht. De hannen hâlde er gear yn ’e skurte en pas doe’t ik hiel tichtby wie, seach er op. Ik leau net dat er skrok. Hy wie ek net tryst. Hy sei: ‘Dit is no wiisheid. In moai hûs sil ik der net fan keapje. In goeie wein likemin. Mar op in dei hoopje ik der in krab fan te tekenjen. De moaiste krab dy’t men oait yn ’e wrâld seach.’
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I DIVED INTO A BAY

I dived into a bay. I dived into a bay whose water was so murky that I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I dived deeper. I swam until I spotted light, moved towards it and surfaced in a small lake. A man was sitting on the shore. His hair was grey, his eyes were shut. His hands were clasped together in his lap and he didn’t look up until I was very close. I don’t think he was startled. He wasn’t sad either. He said, ‘This, then, is truth. It won’t buy me a house. Not even a nice car. But one day I hope that it will be enough for me to draw a crab. The most beautiful crab the world has ever seen.’

I DIVED INTO A BAY

I dived into a bay. I dived into a bay whose water was so murky that I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I dived deeper. I swam until I spotted light, moved towards it and surfaced in a small lake. A man was sitting on the shore. His hair was grey, his eyes were shut. His hands were clasped together in his lap and he didn’t look up until I was very close. I don’t think he was startled. He wasn’t sad either. He said, ‘This, then, is truth. It won’t buy me a house. Not even a nice car. But one day I hope that it will be enough for me to draw a crab. The most beautiful crab the world has ever seen.’
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