To everyone

O, how I want the world to read

what I have written down.

No problem there when people know

and understand the language

of the land where I was born.

Their numbers are but very few.

That’s why I’m going to use this sheet

to reach beyond the border.

O, how I feel restricted,

bound to the way I speak.

I search for roads and byways

to find the words I need.

While doing that I think of you

wherever you may be.

I hope that you while reading this

will spend some thought on me.

Joke van der Ark

Nr. 166 – december 1991