6 - The last summer trip

 

I spread my languid wings
on this late summer evening
I’m heading forward in the setting rays
I want to experience the gold foam
on my skin in all pores before reaching
the last hilltop with noiseless wings

 

I am gently heading southward
along hills and shadow lines
a shepherd still plays on his lute
the late melancholy of my wishes
I greet him, then I look further
for blue mists embracing
the fragrant lavender herb
and I forget about the angry people

 

I hear no more angry words,
no swearing, no cold voices
I feel dizzy in the dark
in not recognizing anymore the sadness
and the foolish sorrow
to which the poets never get used
I descend to soft mosses
where hot thorns no longer torment

 

this will be my last summer trip
I will be found in the rain tomorrow
a bird that had missed its last turn
there was a strong headwind
an autumn wind that sought the way back
from dreams of my childhood life
he chased me out of the last corner,
he didn't want to play no more games with me

 

7 - Unconditionally

 

all the things that I would love to say to you
all the things that I still wanted to do with you,
they’re on a long list : “Not to forget” and “To do”

 

all the things I ever should have told you
all the things I ever should have done with you
they’re on far too long lists
“Not to forget” and “To do”

 

no, it really was not a party every day
and everything was not honey-sweet
it was not very simple,
and I realize that all too well
but believe me, darling, I have loved you
I have loved you unconditionally

 

our story is not over yet, not gone forever
it is imperfect and far from completed
now, a new time begins for us
a time without doubts, without false hopes
because, believe me, my dearest
I loved you deeply
I have truly loved you unconditionally

 

8 - Light the fireplace

 

light the fireplace and close the door
because I want to live
to be a branch
an oak leaf, brown-red or green
I've been past midday for a while
I've been past midday for a while

 

the darkness comes and with it the chill
even when I give a kiss
I wish some fuss, not silence
I've been past midday for a while
I've been past midday for a while

 

what should I do with my hands
I want to live, but whom with

I eat your bread, I drink my pain
I don't want to be a goddamn nobody
like the oak leaf that desires nothing
and just hangs motionless in the rain …

 

not to please anyone or anything
I want to let go and fall

I've been past midday for a while
I've been past midday for a while

 

9 - We were the real men

 

in nineteen fifty-eight the world opened up to us
with the world exposition and its iron molecule
we couldn't even buy a small car in those years
and we watched television at our uncle Jules’ place

 

in icy cold winters we were courageous
we went to the scouts, to church and to school
with red-frozen legs in velvet shorts
with a self-knitted scarf and a checked camisole

 

on foot to Scherpenheuvel was a real pilgrimage
at the fair: “smoutebollen” or a large “suikerspin”
in the bumper cars we acted tough of course
and at our first party we drank our first coke-gin

 

oh yes …. we were the real men
we knew what we wanted because we belonged
to "The Guild of the Real Men"

 

we danced in bars to all the songs of Chuck Berry
we loved to jive and swing and heavenly hellish rock
we played on the jukebox  The Platters and Bill Haley
all the hits of Elvis and “Rock around the clock”

 

we still had to join the army
twelve months of discipline
far away in Germany, on a bomb train
we filled our days with alcohol and nicotine
we stood guard with real ammunition
we were always on duty

 

we often thought "Damn!" and "Get the cholera!"
because we were really homesick
so we wrote a letter to the friends in our village
now and then we wrote a letter to Mom and Dad
but we wrote the most beautiful, warm letters
to our dearest love

 

oh yes …. we were the real men
we knew what we wanted because we belonged
to "The Guild of the Real Men"

 

there was nothing better like the football-club
we danced until five in the morning
and then with a hangover to the pitch
to show off for free and after an ice-cold shower
we felt great again

 

the “WALK OF DEATH” (= De Dodentocht)
in Bornem was a wonderful and unique experience
everyone declared us crazy and crack-brained
with toes without nails and feet full of blisters
we reached the finish line, total loss and to pieces

 

oh yes …. we were the real men

 

10 - The wind was bad

 

on the beautiful green island in Dungarvan, sea view
suddenly the chilly spring became even colder
because the wind was not right

 

after the tide had ebbed and after the wind came down
the message came to me that my friend past away

 

now that he had to turn his face
to the land from which no one returns
he knows the great unknown, he is safe and unharmed

 

middle seven white swans
and the white butterflies by the lake
he is sitting on his chair, singing songs
just like in the old days

 

after the ebbing of the pain came the flood of the loss

reluctantly I will accept that he’s no longer there

 

11 - I love you more and more

 

when your days are lonely and full of sorrow
when the whole world is cold and cruel to you
then know that I will not forget you
I love you more and more

 

when your evening hours are long and cold
and when friends around you make mistakes
then I wouldn't know what could stop you
I love you more and more

 

I know you can't decide yet
you don't really want to commit yourself
but now and then your voice betrays
great doubt and silent sorrow

 

if I only could start over again,
there was nothing I wouldn't do
to be with you in every season
and love you more and more

 

it storms into my heart, windforce ten
but I've never felt better
because my life is buzzing like never before
the drive has not cooled down

 

I would give anything to see you again
because I love you and moreover
you are safe with me
and maybe you love me too more and more
I love you more and more