In the midday heat

the speck of a boat emerges on the lake

mother is anxious, to the beach she runs

to welcome the long-awaited child

 

The dot of a boat becomes real

looking at it the tears flow

the child has arrived from its wanderings

as soon as it steps off mother embraces it

 

Father sits in the centre of the house

as if he hadn't bothered waiting

the child feels dejected at mother's side

- men properly restrain their feelings -

 

The child sits down, is told to talk

a chicken is slaughtered, rice is cooking

The whole village keeps asking

are you married, any children?

 

The lost child is now back

Not a single person it knows anymore

How many harvests have there been

Whatever has happened?

 

The whole village keeps asking

Any children, how many?

The lost child just keeps silent

It rather would want to ask the questions

 

After the meal at dusk

mother approaches him, wants to be talked to

the child looks, the mother asks

wanting to know if it is cold in Europe

 

The child keeps silent remembering things forgotten

the cold of Europe, the seasons of its cities

mother is quiet, has stopped talking

without resentment, only with joy

 

Night has come, mother has fallen asleep

father has been snoring long since

on the beach the waves swish

knowing, the child has not returned