Ons Erfdeel vzw and Poëziecentrum vzw asked nine youngsters from the Low Countries to create poetic films based on their favourite Dutch-language poem. Suzanna van Oers (b. 1996, Utrecht) made a film after the poem Life on Mars by Peter Verhelst, from the anthology Nieuwe sterrenbeelden, published by Prometheus in 2008. The video poetry project Moving Verses is made possible with the support of the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Life on Mars

Would have so much
liked to coincide
but everyone fell
separately

would have so much liked to coincide
but everyone fell separately
only
we

would have so much liked to coincide
but everyone fell separately
only we
leapt for the stars.

Suzanna van Oers / Peter Verhelst

Life on Mars

Was zo graag samen
gevallen
maar iedereen viel
apart

was zo graag samen gevallen
maar iedereen viel apart
alleen
wij

was zo graag samengevallen
maar iedereen viel apart
alleen wij
sprongen naar de sterren.