Cornelis van der Wal was the RIXT poet of the month October 2021. You can read his original Frisian poems of that month here. The translation of one of them – ‘Crystal radios for grandpa’ – is published here.
Crystal radios for grandpa The light thundered above the glimmering flowers of the old field, where the vagabond sang his songs, the watchdog would sharpen his teeth with sour saliva. Some of the farmers knew what to do, the hour when grandpa came sailing into the black canal on his scow. Due to their crystal radios everybody knew of his arrival. © Cornelis van der Wal Translation: Trevor Scarse