This very night
you stroked a cow
in India
and I was there
while you ate cake
on Judith's birthday
With other arms you swam
to me on the little island
hidden in the reeds
I did see you
on the bench in the orchard
of grandma and grandad, telling
a family secret to your sister
She was wearing the dress with ruffles
and she was not interested
Over the trees you reached
her your sixth or seventh hand
to pick heath berries
Your heaviest arm was on me
and has woken me up
if I am awake now
with your arms everywhere
in life, in time, in me
dreaming this night
Poem 1774 Amsterdam, 2018-05-30 Heath berries: vaccinium macrocarpon (large cranberry), bearberry Collection:The Yellow House Museum Keyword:Dreaming