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: Een appel (An Apple) by Toon Tellegen.

An Apple

An apple lies on a dish
at an open window –
if it could think that apple would think:
is this overripe then, a deaf feeling…
it is still sweet,
but is already growing tired as only an apple
can grow tired,
it wrinkles and fades,
it is a warm day, nothing grabs at what’s round it
and nothing happens
and a hand picks it up, turns it round
and throws it through the window –
if it could be surprised that apple
would be surprised and think:
is this at one’s wit’s end then,
or is this supreme confusion?
The evening falls, worms make a beeline,
and it would think:
if I could still shine I would still shine now…
that would be
its last thought.

© Tom Schamp