Poetry pole

A concrete post with poems - including a poem by Rutger Kopland 'Under the apple tree' - at a quiet spot overlooking the meadows along the Heilige Geestweg.

Under the apple tree

I came home, it was
about eight hours and rare
mild for the time of year.
The garden bench was ready
under the apple tree.

I sat down and I sat
to see how the neighbor
Still digging in his garden
the night came out of the earth
A bluing light hung in the air
in the apple tree

Then it slowly became too beautiful again
to be true, the things
of the day gone for the smell
of hay, there were toys again
in the grass and far away in the house
the children laughed in the bath
to where I sat, to
under the apple tree

And later I heard wings
Of geese in heaven
I heard how quiet and empty
it was becoming

Luckily someone came next to me
sitting, to be precise you
Was it who came beside me
under the apple tree, rare
soft and close
for our age.
From: Among the Cattle, 1966.

Blauwkruikje