Geart Tigchelaar was the RIXT poet of the month June 2020. You can read his original Frisian poems of that month here. The translation of one of them – ‘the block r’ – is published below, including a YouTube video of the poem.
the block r tlaintlaintlain twaintwaintwain traintraintrain I sought long and hard under couch and cupboard just when I had enough just to find that block r now I’m able to make words and sense of everything tlaintlaintlain twaintwaintwain traintraintrain as dad takes his nightly seat and watches how some elite expand upon beached planes, national, business waylaid and hefty financial aid you can hear it immediately they’ve lost the block r just like dad who shouts coffee! quiet! I’m ruminating on a plan they can have the block r I’ve got loads to spare tlaintlaintlain twaintwaintwain traintraintrain they’re building international railways with space and nature that’s how they’re dismantling the ghoul of air pollution if by chance the block r would disappear under bookcase, couch or in vacuum cleaner there’ll still be enough blocks to play with sweetly animal woods plant bloom possibility © Geart Tigchelaar Translation: Trevor M. Scarse
Voice: David Scarse