Aan een jonge visser (To a young fisherman, J.I. de Haan) - Ron Mesland - Tiny Bookstore Recital

Aan een jonge visser (To a young fisherman, by Jacob Israël de Haan) - Ron Mesland - Tiny Bookstore Recital june 9/2024, Boekhandel Pampus Amsterdam. The composer sings, to a prerecorded piano-accompaniment by Maarten Hillenius.
At the bookpresentation of "De tedere activist'" by Mark Schalken I sang a not completely flawless interpretation of my composition to the famous Jacob Israël de Haan poem. Famous for the quote on the Amsterdam Homomonument "Naar vriendschap zulk een mateloos verlangen". A musically perfect version is to be found in my channel, sung by Joris van Baar. • Aan een jonge visser (...
To a young fisherman
(Aan eenen jongen visscher, Jacob Israël de Haan, 1917)
translation Ron Mesland 2019, met dank aan Bob Newmark
How roses pale beside your cheeks a-blushing,
tulips are not as tender as your feet.
And in no eyes did this I ever read:
an infinite longing for some friendship.
Behind us was the sea in its eternity.
Above us the eternal sky, fading to grey.
We roamed the lonely beach, just you and me,
no other presence, just the foaming waves.
Last day together, I went to my town.
In peace you sail and fish, I walk and brood,
no refuge in green hills or’n city lights.
I loved so much, now I feel so worn out.
Forgive me all, don’t ask what I withstood,
pray I’ll ne’er succumb to your sweet delight.