kentish plovers in Florence

An unpublished poem by Jan Kooistra, translated by the author himself.


kentish plovers in Florence

the day transcends
the dawn
the city with eternal splendour
sighs as always
in the warm valley
the Porta Romana is wide open
thousands flock
through oppressively dark streets
heading to lighter squares

the body needs cooling
but the mind escapes
walks along the icy sea
sees plovers running proudly
feels her hand
sleeps with her on a single pillow

night is falling
a roaming man
heading to the valley
his visions crystal clear
of the cypresses
merely the contours

 

dûkelmantsjes yn Firenze

de dei giet
de dage te boppe
de stêd mei syn ivige pracht
suchtet as alear
yn ‘e waarme fallei
de Porta Romana stiet wagewiid iepen
tûzenen kringe har troch
neare donkere strjitten
op nei ljochtere pleinen

it liif moat ferkuolling
mar de geast ûntkomt
rint lâns de iiskâlde see
sjocht parmantich rinnende
dûkelmantsjes
fielt har hân
sliept mei har op ien kessen

de jûn falt
in doarmjende man
op wei nei de delling
messkerp syn bylden
fan de sipressen
allinnich de kontoeren

© Jan Kooistra

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