WATERWORKS
Sluices sluiceways tens of
millimetres of water falling
the new rain will reign
over fearless fighters
volunteers and dike-watchers
armed with their spades
waders sacks and sand
So as to heap up
so as to set firm
come on stamp on
hand in hand comrades
inspect dike defences
Chase off all recreation
prepare evacuation
protect the impoldered land
model of our nation
act against the bobbing cattle.
© Tjitse Hofman, 1999
© translation
John Irons, 2000
original title: Waterlanders, from TV 2000, Passage
Publishing Company, Groningen, 1999