Myrte Marije Veenbaas was the RIXT Poet of the Month in December. You can find the translation of her poem ‘Mother’s scent’ below. Her original Frisian poems are linked here.
MOTHER’S SCENT
A wall missed you
looking at us for a lick of paint
now and then we mended holes
with needle and thread from your kit
the barn door peeled
as the rosebush smothered
and covered it
only the clothes chest resisted your departure –
steeped in your scent, later
your yellow blouse called out to me
for an ice cream together in the city
© Myrte Marije Veenbaas
translation: Trevor Scarse