Honouring Stephen Hawking

 

WOMB ~ a poem honouring Stephen Hawking

Enclosed I roam from star to star,
I travel endlessly, I whisper and
my breath unfolds behind me as
a vale, a shooting star, a comet
on its way and growing, growing
with each light-year passing by,

O yes, there is much pleasure in this
roaming, it is creation of a master
plan and still this roaming is
continuing, and when from time
to time I reach the boundaries of
my confinement, I feel a sudden
shiver, as if some unseen Hand is
there to push me back, or could it
be the vale behind that keeps on
coming back, I wonder.

So here I am, inside and out,
no matter how the journey goes,
there always will be worlds to enter
and others then to leave behind,
the roaming will continue, on and on,
no ending, no beginning,
so is the roaming in the Womb of Being,
the cavern of a master’s plan.

Bruidsnacht / Bridal Night

Ballad written by my father, performed live by the Flemish folk band “Laïs” 2014. With lyrics and English subtitles.

Bridal Night

Then to the dune she’s gone
Her wedding dress put on
Waves they go to and fro
Stars ready glow

Lonesome in deaden deep
Her tune wakes him from sleep
Waves they go to and fro
Darken the tide

From sea he came to land
He took her by the hand
Waves they go to and fro
Stars ready glow

Darken dune, Darken dune
Bright stars all ready glow
They rest eternally
bound they flow

And there in fragrant green
Became his Bridal Queen
Waves they go to and fro
Darken the tide

He made her company
Back to the flaming sea
Waves they go to and fro
Stars ready glow

Darken dune, Darken dune
right stars all ready glow
They rest eternally
Mm mm.. bound they flow  (x2)

Bruidsnacht

Zij is naar ’t duin gegaan
Haar bruidskleed had zij aan
Baren gaan heen en weer
Sterren staan klaar

Eenzaam in doods gebied
Ontwaakt hij en hoort haar lied
Baren gaan heen en weer
Donker is ’t tij

Hij kwam uit zee naar ’t strand
Hij nam haar bij de hand
Baren gaan heen en weer
Sterren staan klaar

Donker duin, Donker duin
Sterren staan helder klaar
Zij rusten eeuwig… Bij elkaar

Toen in dat geurend kruid
Werd zij ’n gekroonde bruid
Baren gaan heen en weer
Donker is ’t tij

Hij nam haar met zich mee
Terug naar de brandende zee
Baren gaan heen en weer
Sterren staan klaar

Donker duin, Donker duin
Sterren staan helder klaar
Zij rusten eeuwig
Mm mm… Bij elkaar (x2)

Nederlandse tekst: Ferdinand Vercnocke
Paintings/Schilderijen: Ferdinand Vercnocke
English translation: Rombout Vercnocke

My father in his “Sanctuary”:

Ferdinand