Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Hagar Peeters

LAST NIGHT I CAME ACROSS MY PARENTS

Last night I came across my parents,
two pallid figures that inclined towards
each other in the white light of a lantern.

Judging from their joyous state I was as yet
unborn. They were both young and much in love.
A great sadness then came over me
because I knew the course that things would take.

She roared with laughter at something he had whispered.
He laughed out loud as he still often does.
We exchanged a courteous greeting
and afterwards we went our separate ways.

‘Wait a moment,’ I called after them,
we’ll surely meet again some time.
Arm in arm they silently turned a corner.

VANNACHT KWAM IK MIJN OUDERS TEGEN

VANNACHT KWAM IK MIJN OUDERS TEGEN

Vannacht kwam ik mijn ouders tegen,
twee bleke schimmen die naar elkaar
toe negen in het witte licht van een lantaarn.

Aan hun geluk te zien kon ik nog niet
geboren zijn. Ze waren jong en heel verliefd.
Een groot verdriet bedroefde mij
omdat ik wist hoe het zou verdergaan.

Zij schaterde om iets dat hij haar toegefluisterd had.
Hij lachte hard zoals hij nog vaak doet.
We wisselden een beleefde groet
en daarna scheidden zich weer onze wegen.

‘Wacht maar’, riep ik hen na,
wij komen elkaar nog wel eens tegen.
Gearmd gingen ze zwijgend om een hoek.
Close

LAST NIGHT I CAME ACROSS MY PARENTS

Last night I came across my parents,
two pallid figures that inclined towards
each other in the white light of a lantern.

Judging from their joyous state I was as yet
unborn. They were both young and much in love.
A great sadness then came over me
because I knew the course that things would take.

She roared with laughter at something he had whispered.
He laughed out loud as he still often does.
We exchanged a courteous greeting
and afterwards we went our separate ways.

‘Wait a moment,’ I called after them,
we’ll surely meet again some time.
Arm in arm they silently turned a corner.

LAST NIGHT I CAME ACROSS MY PARENTS

Last night I came across my parents,
two pallid figures that inclined towards
each other in the white light of a lantern.

Judging from their joyous state I was as yet
unborn. They were both young and much in love.
A great sadness then came over me
because I knew the course that things would take.

She roared with laughter at something he had whispered.
He laughed out loud as he still often does.
We exchanged a courteous greeting
and afterwards we went our separate ways.

‘Wait a moment,’ I called after them,
we’ll surely meet again some time.
Arm in arm they silently turned a corner.
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