De achterkant van je hoofd

Vreemdeling, ik kijk naar de achterkant van je hoofd;
naar het hart van de kruin
waar de haarwervel begint;
bij het vleugje huid
zoals de sterren
geclusterd in het hart van een spiraal sterrenstelsel,
krullen uitwervelend in punten van licht op donker
tot in het oneindige en verder…

Er zijn meer dan 170 miljard sterrenstelsels
in het waarneembaar universum-
maar op het bovendek van deze bus het grootste mysterie
is de donkere materie van je ogen
die ik nooit zal zien-
zoals jij nooit dit kleine gedicht zult lezen

Nick Drake (1948-1974) (vertaling Gmt)

Nicholas Rodney Drake (Rangoon, Birma, 19 juni 1948 – Tanworth-in-Arden, nabij Coventry, 25 november 1974) was een singer-songwriter uit Engeland.

The Back of Your Head

Stranger, I’m looking at the back of your head;
at the heart of the crown
where the whorl starts;
at the touch of skin
like the stars
clustered at the core of a spiral galaxy,
curls whirling out in points of light on dark
to infinity and beyond …

There are more than 170 billion galaxies
in the observable universe –
but on the top deck of this bus the greatest mystery
is the dark matter of your eyes
which I shall never see –
as you will never read this little poem.

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you’re here
Brighten my northern sky.
I’ve been a long time that I’m waiting
Been a long that I’m blown
I’ve been a long time that I’ve wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind’s eye.
Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me ‘til I’m dead
Oh, if…
I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you’re here
Brighten my northern sky.
Songwriters: Nick Drake
Songteksten voor Northern Sky © BMG Rights Management