Totem (poem by Paul Snoek)

I wished to be an emperor
In this life of dwarves
But I could not forget the softness
Of the peach
And I remained a very young child

I have also seen daily
The white necks of fear
Dreaded the hardened hands of light

I could not forget
The deep silence of the fishes
And became a very old child

Now I have painted
My forehead with dreamcolor
Day in day out, I am your stranger
I smoke a peace pipe

translated by Siwa Versnel

This post is also available in: Dutch