Poem city poet Marjolein Westendorp

Before it became 2 minutes of silence at Meerpaalplein on May 4, city poet Marjolein Westendorp recited the poem she wrote around the National Committee May 4 and 5's annual theme "Living with War'.

My grandfather had to go to a labor camp

But he jumped off the moving train

Hiding with only an oil lamp

And my grandmother had to be mother and father

I asked her how it was then

And how she later, left it behind

Pain, I saw when I read her thoughts

For answer I did not get

My husband works as a defender of our country

He and his colleagues are constantly on the alert

All around us the world is on fire

I feel the fear of what is and what is to come

We share our village with those who have fled

Every day we see images of hopelessness

Today we stand together on this safe square

And we feel peace in all its fragility

My daughter is still small and impressionable

I understand why my grandmother was silent then

For how could I ever tell her

That war comes in an unguarded moment

Words not only fall short

Sometimes they can't be found

So that you are completely silent

For a minute, here together

Grateful that we can and may be silent together

Only our memories and thoughts

Our sympathy for those in fear, sorrow and in pain

And love and respect for those who brought us peace then