BELGIAN DOVE TRILOGY
1. LOUVAIN
Behind the Minor Beguinage
the Dijle river rushes on, the waste
filtered through a crooked dam
yes, it was hot, I cast
furtive glances on water surface
and saw my first swimdove
like a duck, slightly surprised
but still proud he looked up
and spun round, the current
carried him along, past three ducks
sunbathing on a sandbank
in rage honking after the dove.
2. DE HAAN (ON THE COAST)
The N34 between Ostend and Wenduine
had hot asphalt that day, so hot
a dove nestled itself on it
saw the beast too late, braking or
swerving would bring disaster and
death for me and mine, made
the only choice saving all
straight across the feathered friend
and just prayed the animal would stay put
in the mirror I saw the bird
cooing merrily, a wink of an eye and a sigh
next car in line had wide tyres.
3. SEADOVES
Tropical heat had driven us to the sea
the slender youth thrashed about, his
shoulders sparkled with salt
every dive at him, he dodged
laughing out loud took two steps back
and then three forward
I understood those doves, doing
what they did and what nothing
else would ever do
mocking mother nature
for the sake of it.
© Bart
FM Droog, 1998
© translation
Willem Groenewegen, 1998
original title: Belgisch duivendrieluik, from Deze
dagen, Passage
Publishing Company, Groningen, 1998
Translation previously published in Definitely - Dutch
poetry, Rottend Staal, Groningen, 1998.