did the past really exist?
is it rooted in deep darkness
are its fangs long and sharp
does it flow beneath us like the Styx?

I came here to see the Zwette
I drop by now and then
we damn the leaders and praise them
drink coffee
talk the day away

did the past really exist?
if I climbed Friesland’s tallest tower
would I see where I began?

I came here to see the Ee
to find out what was left
which links the connections have made
you can ponder forever, of course
but okay, let’s cross it
everything is there

did the past really exist?
can you see it everywhere
like an enemy who’s lurking everywhere
his scared foe looks?

and here, I came here
to see Sneekermeer
to find out what’s been lost
to find out what is left
to find out how much distance and how much connection
the construction reveals

awake at dawn
you hear the latest generation of jet fighters
cursing through the clouds
high over the city

they’re standing there, I see them
don’t look away
they’re not our enemies
collect toy planes, don’t play with them
don’t underestimate the power of words
fly, fly, fly

maybe it’s true
that like poetry
peace and freedom
prefer to take the longer road

I came here to see the bridge
stood still and pondered, looked out
waved at the far bank
where they stood, people
as different as me.

Arjan Hut and Marrit Jellema (City poet of Leeuwarden)
Translation: David Colmer