Sigrid Kingma was the RIXT poet of the month in July. You can read her original Frisian poems here. The English translation of one of her poems – ‘States of disarray’ – is published below.
States of disarray
How charming you were
such a smooth talker
at times very distant
took your time to think
and though you might not give
someone the time of day
behind the scenes you were giving
You used to be so easy-going
recklessness wasn’t your style
neither was giving each their due
and I only truly loved you
when I got my way
but now that you’re dying
I will speak plainly
I need you
you simp, you slouch
why didn’t you take care of yourself?
no wonder everybody gets tired
so quickly of your shenanigans
Should I have gotten a gun?
Shot down all those creeps?
your heart is pounding
as I spread the ashes of angry thoughts
hush hush, tut-tut
your tongue grows weary
How young you were
sitting on the fence, that’s true
a scaredy-cat, a wimp even
still, I have to be honest
I did not see it coming
So long, dear democracy.
© Sigrid Kingma
translation: Trevor Scarse