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Poetry

Quiet

By Nachoem M. Wijnberg
Translated from Dutch by David Colmer

Quiet, you say.
     I hardly hear you.
You’re already that far.
     Don’t leave me behind like this.

I stop talking.
     Immediately I’m so dizzy
I have to hold on to myself.
     Quiet, you say.

I miss your laugh so much
     I copy it,
louder and louder.
     That’s as quiet as I can be.

English

Quiet, you say.
     I hardly hear you.
You’re already that far.
     Don’t leave me behind like this.

I stop talking.
     Immediately I’m so dizzy
I have to hold on to myself.
     Quiet, you say.

I miss your laugh so much
     I copy it,
louder and louder.
     That’s as quiet as I can be.

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