Tichter

Ik bin by dy sa ticht
Fan tichter triedden
Spint gjin web gjin
Weefsel wint it fan
Us fingers wynt him
Tichter om it libben
Bynt him tichter
Op ’e hûd

Ik bin by dy sa ticht
Sa ticht fan taal en fan
Ferstean te gean dêr’t
Flibe en triennen minge
Dêr’t de grinzen ús
Ferlitte te ferjitten fan
It lichem dat ús dielt
Yn dy en my

Sa ticht – sa ticht
Kin net mear stikken
Stik – stik de triedden tichter
Fan triedden ticht sa bin ik
Sa ticht bin ik by dy
Fan triedden ticht sa bin ik

Sa bûn
Sa frij

Lyrics & music: Nynke Laverman // English translation: Judith Wilkinson

Translation

Closer

I am with you so close
No web of tighter threads
Is spun no tissue wins
From what our fingers weave
Winds itself more
Tightly round life
Binds itself so close
To the skin

I am with you so close
So language-close so close
To understanding going where
Spittle and tears mingle
Where the borders leave us
So we forget the body
That separates us
Into you and me

So close – so close
Beyond breaking now
Tighten – tighten the stitching
Of tightest thread am I
So close am I to you
Of tightest thread am I

So bound
So free