Poëtegem (6)

Luttele tijd voor de dood van mijn vader schreef ik voor hem dit gedicht, en mijn vriend Jan Desseyn zette er muziek op.

Father oh father, the land that you worked

Is the land that I live on, the land of my birth

I can picture you toiling and slaving away

For the sake of your children, whatever they say

The others come first is your sense of life

It’s a generous goal and a merciful drive

Father oh father, the road that you’ve gone

Is the road that I walked and that I travelled on

I went where my nose went, I followed no call

It’s a wonder that I found my way home at all

The rivers I crossed and the places I’ve seen

Remind me of you in your wildest dreams

Father oh father, the words that you speak

Are the words that I learned, the words I will keep

They are words from the past, like a load that you bore

They were not enough for me, I needed more

So I went round the world and guess what I found

A sturdy foundation on solid ground

Father oh father, the seeds that you’ve sown

Are the seeds of compassion and honesty

They rooted inside me and will remain here

I’m glad for the harvest as winter is near

Father dear father how would it feel?

If I finally forgive you for the wounds that will heal