De Nieuwe Stem. Jaargang 21

[p. 174]

Three Translations in Memoriam

By the river

A horse appears
from the wood's blue twilight,
a second, a third.
One after the other they trot
through the light green pasture
to the gate.
There they come to a halt,
looking out on the river.

Behind every gate
Pegasus stands
looking out on water, sky, horizon
and dreams of his erstwhile wings.

Vague recollections
and a jogtrot to the river.

Fog rises from the ground.

[p. 175]

Walk among trees

What shall I miss the most when I am yonder?
The trees, the leaves, surging like water in the wind,
water itself, the never-ending sea,
and behind every gate throughout the tired world,
the horses, saddest creatures of us all,
and the migrating birds, the many hundreds,
and then the trees again, the sea again, the horses.
Show me a heaven to see that again -

Undistinguished company

What calendar is there to show the day

when I shall be sheet-white and cold as snow,

and unknown men will come to pay their call

and walk into my Bedroom unannounced

to put the finishing and final touch

to me who never saw them, never shall:

the swarthy chimney-sweeps of Death,

who black-on-white confirm the final fact;

the men sent from his clothing store to measure

my wooden suit, who in your service, Tailor,

will be to me, now unapproachable,

then very intimate, most merciful.

Translated by James S Holmes