Friday, 12 July 2013

The Children Have Lit the Fire

Tsead Bruinja is a poet from The Netherlands. He lives in Amsterdam, but is rooted in Fryslân.
He writes in different languages.
I met him at the last Stanza festival (Thanks to Michaël Vandebril for leading me to him) and was blown away by how beautiful the Frisian language(s) sounds.

After the festival I asked him if I could make a video for one of his Frisian poems.
I made one for;

 DE BERN HA IT FJOER OANSTUTSEN

wy jouwe te folle ljocht tegearre
do en ik tinke dat se ús net sjogge
mar se sjogge ús

lykas besjogge se in himel
fol fallende stjerren op flylân
ein augustus

it is nacht op it eilân langstme
dat skûmkoppen fan ferwyt en ferlet oanfrette
en golle weagen fan belofte sân oansette

de bern ha it fjoer oanstutsen op it strân
it hast op in folwoeksen sûpen set en it oan elkoar bekend

sjogge inoar inoar inoar

ien boat kin my meinimme
mar dêrfoar moat ik slimmer siik wêze
en minder ljocht jaan

ien boat komt net
hoe't ik ek flok

baarnt ôf
op oare weagen

raand goud

de bern ha it fjoer oanstutsen
en wy

wy jouwe tefolle ljocht

Tsead loved the result (Always a joy to hear) and and made me an English translation, so you can enjoy a version with titles.

The Children Have Lit the Fire

we give off too much light together
you and I think they don't see us
but they see us

like they're watching a sky
full of stars falling on Vlieland
end of august

it's night on the island of need
that is eaten away at by crests of reproach and desire
while at the same time generous waves of promise
deposit sand

the children have lit the fire on the beach
boozing it up almost like adults
they confess to each other

see each other each other each other

one boat can take me away from here
but for that I must be sicker
and give off less light

one boat won't come
however I curse

burns down
on other waves

molten gold

the children have started a fire
and we

we give off too much light
Have a look and listen;


Words & Voice: Tsead Bruinja
Concept, Editing & Music: Swoon
Thanks: VFX Footage

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