Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Najwan Darwish

BELATED RECOGNITION

Often I was the stone the builders neglected
But when they came, worn out and remorseful
after the destruction
and said, “You are the cornerstone”
there was nothing left to build

Their denial was more bearable
than their belated recognition

EEN LATE ERKENNING

Heel lang was ik de steen die door de bouwers werd versmaad
En toen zij – na de verwoesting van de beschaving –
Schuldbewust en vol ijver zeiden:
“Jij bent de hoeksteen”
Was er niets over om te bouwen
 
Hun ontkenning was beter te verdragen
Dan hun late erkenning

A BELATED CONFESSION

Close

BELATED RECOGNITION

Often I was the stone the builders neglected
But when they came, worn out and remorseful
after the destruction
and said, “You are the cornerstone”
there was nothing left to build

Their denial was more bearable
than their belated recognition

BELATED RECOGNITION

Often I was the stone the builders neglected
But when they came, worn out and remorseful
after the destruction
and said, “You are the cornerstone”
there was nothing left to build

Their denial was more bearable
than their belated recognition
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