Poem
F. van Dixhoorn
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
© Translation: 2006, Astrid Alben
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
© 2000, F. van Dixhoorn
From: Takken molenwater / Kastanje jo / Hakke tonen / Hakke tonen / Uiterton / Molen in de zon
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
From: Takken molenwater / Kastanje jo / Hakke tonen / Hakke tonen / Uiterton / Molen in de zon
Publisher: De Bezige Bij, Amsterdam
Poems
Poems of F. van Dixhoorn
Close
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
© 2006, Astrid Alben
From: Takken molenwater / Kastanje jo / Hakke tonen / Hakke tonen / Uiterton / Molen in de zon
From: Takken molenwater / Kastanje jo / Hakke tonen / Hakke tonen / Uiterton / Molen in de zon
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
© 2006, Astrid Alben
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