Skip to main content
Outdated Browser

For the best experience using our website, we recommend upgrading your browser to a newer version or switching to a supported browser.

More Information

Poetry

Song

By Nachoem M. Wijnberg
Translated from Dutch by David Colmer

I saw a shop
went in and bought
something I had forgotten
I already had.

I stood in the shop
and there was nothing else
I could remember
that I needed.

But what do I do
with two of them
except wait
for one to break?

My father wanted
to teach me about money,
that’s why he refused
to give me something.

He gave me money
and pointed to a shop,
go in and ask
for what you want.

English

I saw a shop
went in and bought
something I had forgotten
I already had.

I stood in the shop
and there was nothing else
I could remember
that I needed.

But what do I do
with two of them
except wait
for one to break?

My father wanted
to teach me about money,
that’s why he refused
to give me something.

He gave me money
and pointed to a shop,
go in and ask
for what you want.

Read Next