Well-off people, Afoot, With no salt in their coats And no dirt Pulls their eyes to the paper. ... There, Where trees and darkness mingle, The Lord forgot His things In a cave. Passers-by come To enjoy life and go But poor people With crutches And dirty National Health glasses Are waiting for death That is always late. ... What shall we swap to have fun As everybody is afraid to come near. Paralysis Is contagious And the blind Are full of thoughts. ... Well-off people With dreams Weave vast days To suit intricate road systems And take in horn blasts That anger nobody. At night They turn their dreams to wings, Glasses of wine And stories. ... A silent child Knows all To save the city from child mothers, Retarded in growth, With erased memories And chairs for the disabled. Mothers who read much Cannot cook Or watch T.V. A smart child Would send them into exile As they constantly drop off Before completing a line. ... Well-to-do passers-by, fearing infection, have multiple eyes and their feet find new meanings for parallel, crossing and perpendicular lines. Side-walks Accustomed to shoes, Are more at ease with unshod feet But They do not forgive people with crutches Who ruin the pavement, And abort crickets That prepare themselves for motherhood. ... The side-walks are ready to rise And I Try to unscrew the nuts On my foot. _____________ Translated by Kees Nijland