Time for another Dutch poem. This time from the hand of the Dutch poet, publicist, translator and critic Adriaan Morriën. Unlike many of the Dutch poets, there is no English information available about this poet.
He made his debute before World War II (1935) with is first poem. After four years he had enough material to publish his first book (Hartslag / Heartbeat, 1939). After the war was over, he worked on translations and analysys of the work of others. He worked for the Dutch newspaper Het Parool. He also worked as a French teacher and was attached to the Instituut voor Vertaalkunde (Intitute for Translations) of the University of Amsterdam.
Morriën was the founding fathers of the Dutch Fonds voor de Letteren.
About the poem
As in many cases, saying goodbye is never an easy thing to do. Not knowing what the other person will do, is sometimes very difficult. When it’s all about saying goodbye to a loved one, the question to stay safe is very often asked. This poem is about goodbye a farwell, even for such a short moment. A loved one asks if the other will stay safe, when going to the shop.
Farewell
By Adriaan Morriën
Will you promise to be careful?
I know that you will only
go to the shop
just around the corner
and that you’re not dressed
for a long journey
Your kiss is light feathered
your look is safe
and peaceful are both hand and foot
Around the corner
a part of the world
behind this moment
a sea of time
Will you promise to be careful?
The Dutch original:
Afscheid
Door Adriaan Morriën
Zul je voorzichtig zijn?
Ik weet wel dat je maar een
boodschap doet
hier om de hoek
en dat je niet gekleed bent voor
een lange reis.
Je kus is licht,
je blik gerust
en vredig zijn je hand en voet.
Maar achter deze hoek
een werelddeel,
achter dit ogenblik
een zee van tijd.
Zul je voorzichtig zijn?
