| Ik koe in faam, moai ta fuotten út, |
I knew a woman, lovely in her bones, |
| at fûgeltsjes suchten, suchte se werom. |
when smalle birds sighed she would sigh back at them; |
| Ju, at se beweegde gong it alle kanten út: |
Ah, when she moved, she moved more ways than one: |
| wat doarmje der in foarmen yn in foarm om. |
the shapes a bright container can contain! |
| Oer har deugden hâlde inkel goaden in petear |
Of her choice virtues only gods should speak, |
| of Dútske dichters, dy ha Gryks studeard |
or English poets who grew up on Greek |
| (ik soe se sjonge litte, ear oan ear). |
(I'd have them speak in chorus, cheek to cheek). |
| |
| Wat gong har aaikjen goed! By myn kintsje del, |
How well her wishes went! She stroked my chin, |
| se learde my de bok, de ringen en de stantsjes, |
she taught me Turn and Counter-Turn and Stand; |
| se learde oan te fielen, wyt weagjend fel. |
she tought me Touch, that undulent white skin; |
| Ik besobbe njût de fingers fan har hantsjes. |
I nibled meekly from her proferred hand; |
| Hja wie de siklomeaner, ik de harke rûn |
she was the sickle; I poor I the rake, |
| efter har moaie efterste oan |
coming behind her for her pretty sake |
| (wat ha we it dochs goed fan meanen hân). |
(but what prodigious mowing did we make). |
| |
| Leafde mei wol oer it bokje en is gek op 'e geit: |
Love likes a gander, and adores a goose: |
| har lippen op inoar en snip de misse noat. |
her full lips pursed, the errant note to seize; |
| Se spile it fluch, se ridele hjir wei; |
she played it quick, she played it light and loose, |
| har glêde knibbels hiene myn eagen by de poat. |
my eyes, they dazzled at her flowing knees; |
| Har ferskate parten koene kleare rêst |
her several parts could keep a pure repose, |
| of ien heup trille as in noasflegel op it lêst |
or one hip quiver with a mobile nose |
| (se beweegde yn sirkels, sirkels op har bêst). |
(she moved in circles and those circles moved). |
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