I once had a crow

Who could speak my name
Sat on my hand
Shat on the window pane
It knew my heart
It knew my pain
The one day it took off
And flew away

I still got a black feather
Which I keep
Inside my Collins bird guide
Fast asleep
I can climb any mountain
Tall and steep
As long as I remember you take to the sky
And fly away

I once had a crow
It could sing my name
Sat on my hand
But it was never tame
It knew my mind
It knew my pain
Last night I dreamt we met again
And we flew away

Picture of two haystacks standing in the sun
Don't know why I’m the one
To sit staring at this old photograph
Don't know why its skewed horizon is making me laugh

Two haystacks photographed so long ago
Who am I to say you should forget and let the wind blow
Away, away all those memories
As you know recollections they come as they please

Two haystacks standing in a field
Tell me is something being revealed
By looking at this old photograph
An old forgotten story making you laugh

To know
One is allowed
To finally
Find the way home

I can find nothing wrong in being towed

By another boat
You cannot do everything on your own
Strength lies in knowing when to ask for help
And not struggle on all alone

All alone

This has nothing to do with loss of pride
Or not being self sufficient
If there is one thing I have learned in this long stupid life of mine
It is being patient

Being patient

You gotta know when it is your time to shine
And when it is time to be humble
Gotta know when it is time to stand tall
And when it's your time to tumble

To tumble

Look
See the sun reflected on the water
It's such a beautiful day
The waves splattering against my bow
It seems I'm going far away
Far away from all that I know

Hallstattersee
Overvaart Frannsee (Crossing Fransee)
Naar Hallstatt (To Hallstatt)
Juni 1913 (June 1913)

How still the lake seemed that day
How everything else seemed to be so far away
The mountains around us seemed so huge
Keeping the world at bay
At bay

It was as though one could touch the silence
No wind rippling the surface of the lake
The swans floating so effortlessly
Like being inside a dream yet wide awake
Wide awake

There we were
The four of us still together
Mostly there is no knowing when you should cherish the moment
Wrap it in silk and keep it close to your heart
But somehow that day we knew
Everything would soon be torn apart
So far from each other hearts

Crossing Hallstattersee
On that magical day

Two cats staring you down
Lying spying you on the lawn

Some thought we were sisters
But we really were not
On our hands we had blisters
From the kinda work we got

Life could be hard
Working on a farm
But she was always there
To keep me from harm

Look at us on this old photograph
Her arm around my shoulder
Look at us on this photograph
Now we are so much older

These farmers could be cruel
And the work brutal
She would protect me
Shield me for it all

All day long
Working on our knees
The sun shine so hard
This was sure no life of ease

Look at us on this old photograph
Her arm around my shoulder
Look at us on this photograph
Now we are so much older

Standing in a summer field
The wind playing with her apron
We look so serious
Cherish the moment
We look so proud

Look at us
So long ago
Look at us
See the summer wind blow
Look at us
Standing shoulder to shoulder
Look at us
So much older
Now
credits

It was often one crazy thing after another
But this one that my father proposed
Was like no other

He told us to gather six of our friends
From them and me
to be the seven dwarfs
And my sister was to be Snow White

Sure thing we had to look the part
With long beards and pointed hats
And my sister all in white

My father really was a funny man

Look at the photograph
Taken in the garden
Snow White lying on her bed

The table wrapped in a white blanket
And the sad dwarfs
standing around her

Three are on their knees
Among the autumn leaves
So as to appear small

My father really was a funny man

Ain’t this the most funny picture ever

Even more so after all these years

Having lunch between Rotterdam and Delft

Today is the greatest day

My aunt is coming from far away
Bringing presents for everyone
We have been waiting for so long

She has come in a carriage with two horses
And a coachman dressed up in uniform
All the children have come to greet her
And the little doggie too

We are crowding around her
As mama shouts leave auntie alone
She has been traveling for so long
Give her some space!

It's a beautiful day
As my aunt has come from far away
Bringing gifts for everyone
She knows we have been waiting for so long

My aunt she looks slightly weary
And a bit overwhelmed
But she sure is happy too
So glad to see us all again

Wearing a bright blue dress
For the occasion
And a small bag on her arm
That my cheeky sister
Wants to carry for her

It's a glorious day
My aunt has arrived today
Bringing stories for everyone
She knows we've been waiting so long

For the occasion dad has brought out his camera
Making photos of her arrival
Of us milling around her
Next to the horses

It is as if we are already watching the photo's
As the moments they seem to freeze
Even if time moves on and on
Like it always does

These moments we never will forget
For as long we will live

I wonder if what they say is true
That I’m getting over you
That I could be free again
Live my life without you

I ask myself how will it be
Living without loving you
That it could be just me
Myself and I without being so blue

Sitting staring over the water
Still like a mirror
All is being reflected
But nothing is true
And nothing is revealed

your face is no longer sharp
And your kisses grown stale
Your hands I cannot feel
And your words they start to fail

Your path is getting overgrown
And your bridges start a-crumbling
You stories become vague memories
And buildings start tumbling

Sitting staring over the water
Smoking a cigarette
All is getting lost
And nothing I believed is true
Volatile like smoke

I wonder where tomorrow I might be
As I take that early morning train
I will be roaming free
Leave behind the hurt and the pain

I hope my angels take me somewhere
Take me where I do belong
Up where there’s no more fighting
And I can do no wrong

Sitting staring over the water
With nothing to left say
Too much has been said
And so much was untrue
This utter silence is you

Taking a picture of Herman sitting there
With his back against a tree
Listening to the wind in the leaves
The birds whistling
Looking, as he says,
like a thinking man
But I don’t do
Much thinking these days
He says I’m just am sitting here
With a blank mind
Not because i want to be
Some wise Buddha
Or any of the kind
It’s just that I find
Being quiet & being still
Gives me some peace of mind
A way of saying thanks
I’m here still

Taking a picture of Herman sitting there
With his back against a tree
I do remember it like it was yesterday
Although it is so many years ago

Standing among the rubble
That once was my house
My street my town

All ruins as far as you look
Some skeletons of burned-out buildings
Still standing up

Ready to tumble at any minute
They will have to tear them down
Down to the ground

Some other people
Standing in a parallel street
So funny that I can see them

As normally the houses
They would block my view
Those people they look even more lost than me

As all references of what used to be
They are gone
All that stood has now come down

It's a warm day in May
I have taken off my jacket
Rolled up my shirt sleeves

Feel the sun burn on my head
I should have taken my hat
But I do no longer have a hat

And the clothes I'm wearing are not mine
My hat lies buried
Beneath all that rubble

They say I should consider myself lucky
At least I am alive
But today it doesn't feel like that

They say I should be grateful
Cause I am still here

Sophie and Nathalie
Have climbed the tree
But not me
I like to stay below

Taking it easy
Drink from the bottle
Cause I'm thirsty

You can call me lazy
And I say maybe
Maybe I’m be lazy

But what’s wrong with that
I say people are crazy
Always so busy

And not being nice
To each other no

You know by
Doing nothing much
I do not bother anybody no

She says
Today could be like
Any other day
But I tell you it’s not
It’s the only day we got

Sophie and Nathalie
Are up there in tree
But not me
I stay below

Let the wind blow
Stories and songs
Through the leaves
Through t grass

Doesn’t matter what anybody says
Doesn’t matter what anybody believes

There’s nothing wrong
With doing nothing worthwhile
All the while

Listening for the world
Whisper its secrets, yes
Listening to the wind
Forgetting its secrets, yes

She says
Today could be like
Any other day
But I tell you it’s not
It’s the only day we got

Nathalie and Sophie
Are up t in there in the tree
Laughing at me

Calling to me
To climb up too
Which I won’t do

I like being here on the ground
Not making a sound

Watching the clouds drifting
Big like mountains

And you know me
I’d like to climb those

And not some stupid tree
That doesn’t do it for me

She says
Today could be like
Any other day
But i tell you it’s not
It’s the only day we got

Your niece Mildred
Out with the rabbits in the yard
Dahlias in bloom
Alongside the garage

A photo that won’t give away its secrets
Is it a river we are looking at?
Making a bend in the distance?
Or a big lake surrounded by pines?
The viewpoint is high
Could be from a ship
Or from a high shore

But the only thing it really shows
Is a vast expanse of water
The sun reflecting on its surface
So it must be a sunny day
Something that cannot be deduced
From the grey sky
On the black and white photograph
And then there are the pines
Surrounding all shores
Must be thousands of them
Big ones mostly

And that’s all there is to see really

One can try to guess and imagine
Where?
Why?
Whom?

But this photo gives no answers
This photo begs for silence