Neverland 

NEVERLAND

On the way to the killed
dictator's country
the tarmac drives us on
through forests of fir in darkness

where once my father fought

in snow, storm, attack
and artillery force
the First Army broke its neck
he passed sentence in many tongues

that was his job

we break through time
from these woods, winding
roads, Cadillacs whizz past
under F-15s in formation

burst through barriers
across barracks full of cannon
paint this white town black
the cold war is over

the brown monster smoulders

by gothic graffiti in ghettotown
rappers play GI-Joe
their dads polish armour
and mum shops at the mall

we stop, drink coffee
in this multi-cultured land
bratwurst in the steins
and Desert Storm threatens, as

a dictator sharpens his sword.

© Bart FM Droog, 1998
© translation Willem Groenewegen, 1998
original title: Neverland, from Deze dagen, Passage Publishing Company, Groningen, 1998
Translation previously published in Definitely - Dutch poetry, Rottend Staal, Groningen, 1998.