The Poetry Week is the celebration of poetry in Flanders and the Netherlands, taking place from 30 January to 5 February. In 2020, the theme is ‘The future is now’. Because we believe that children are the future, every day we present a Dutch children's poem in English translation. Today: Cadeaux (Gifts) by Rudy Kousbroek.

Gifts

Darling daughter, when you’re grown
I’ll give you seven wonders:

A cat that can talk, very wisely
Or can point out words in a book.

A friend who never lets you down
Love of music that never passes.

A remembered face that never fades
A voice that soothes you when you lie awake.

And on every birthday
A bird that writes your name in the sky.

© Daan Remmerts de Vries