Die Maske /The Mask by Clara olde Heuvel

Die Maske The Mask - Clara olde Heuvel ©

Eine Verpflichtung A duty 
Sei es jetzt it became   
Mit Maske rum zu laufen to wear a mask 

In Supermärkten in supermarkets 
und Tankstellen gas stations 
in öffentlichen Gebäuden public buildings 
und in 2-persons Zellen and other locations 
Es soll sich anfühlen wie ei Schutz the mask is intended as prevention
Für sich und andere Mitmenschen for thyself and their fellow men
                                                                    
einen Trutz darstellen 
                                                                     Call it apprehension 
dennoch bleibt prüfend  
                                                                     Though stay critical 
wenn dir die Tankstellenmitarbeiterin sagt 
                                                                     while the gas station lady 
“setzen sie bitte die Maske auf”, is telling you 
                                                                     "please put on your mask" 
obwohl sie selbst keine trägt whereas she herself is not wearing one 
Denn dieses zersägt since this causes mentation 

das Gefühl and distorts the feeling 

das Gute zu tun, of doing good 
obgleich man eine Stunde vorher whereas one 
im Supermarket einkaufen ging was walking through 
                                                                      a supermarket 
und durch die Maske and because of the mask 
fast selbst keine Luft bekommen hat has almost gotten out of air

nein klaustrophobisch geworden ist no nearly suffocated 

nur den Konsum zu verstärken                           only reinforcing 
                                                                      capitalism and consumption 
eine gut Sache muss man wohlbemerken!
                                                                      a good deed one has 
                                                                      to notice and be 
                                                                      acknowledged for !


Clara olde Heuvel LL.M. is a human rights lawyer. She has an authentic interest in people from different cultures, because of being raised multiculturally by a French grandmother, German mother and Dutch father. Because of her bilingual background she is passionate about language and especially passionate about expressing her emotions and feelings through words. These poems and short notes were all written during the corona isolation. She is one of the published authors of the book “Human Crossing 9 stories about Refugees”. She can be reached at: oldeheuvel.c@gmail.com 

Comments

  1. Doug DunnMay 23, 2020 at 2:35 PM


    I like the line by line translation. The English verse rhymes nicely.

    ReplyDelete

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