Tuesday 19 April 2011

A poem by the Dutch poet Alfred Schaffer

They must be prepared to go to the utmost

For this occasion they have
selected a mountain cabin that is only reachable
along a slithery, worn-out path that follows a ravine.

They agree to let each other have their say
and not to interrupt each other
without first raising a hand.

If one of the two fails to understand a word
the other bursts out laughing and will write the word
in capitals on a piece of paper that he holds up
so that the other can learn the word by heart.

Earlier that day it began to snow heavily.
They explain their dreams whenever
they feel they have a need to do so.

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