Ritals [English translation]

And yet, we ourselves were familiar with it

The stench of the ship’s holds,

The bitter taste of leaving

We savored it ourselves

And a language to unlearn

And another one to learn hastily

before (learning to ride) a bike .

We experienced it ourselves

Be it the mist left by our breathing on the shops’ windows

And the warmth of a piece of bread

And the shame of being rejected

We knew it ourselves

This way to look on, speechlessly

We were acquainted with the patience

Of those who cannot take a break

And the holy generosity

Of holy giving

We were ourselves acquainted with

The color of slander

And a dwelling modest, very modest

That fails to become a home

And the mist left by our breath on the shops’ windows

And the warmth of a piece of bread

And the shame of being rejected

We knew it ourselves

This way to look on, without a word.