De Nieuwe Stem. Jaargang 8

[p. 256]

M. Nijhoff
The mother the wife

I went to Bommel to behold the bridge
I saw the new one - both the opposite sides
that seemed to shun each other once, but which
now had become good neighbours over tide. -

And after tea, some minutes, lying near
in waving grass, the landscape, far and wide,
filling my heart and head - sounding I hear
out from Infinity a song of pride.

It was a woman and the ship on which she stood
came slowly through the bridge, down with the stream,
she was alone on deck, close to the helm her foot.

I heard her singing, psalms, as in a dream...
O God, I thought, might that my mother be...
Praise Him, she sang, His hand is guiding thee.

Vert. Agatha Seger.

(Herplaatst wegens misstelling.)