Windows to Europe

Pim Lammers
Translated by Laura Watkinson

Three poems

You Don't Choose Your Family

Me and Mick were neighbours first,
then friends, then best friends,
and now we’re brothers.

Mum says you can't do that:
“You don't choose your family.”

But Mum also says
that one biscuit with your tea is enough,
that seven o’clock is the perfect bedtime,
and that all dogs always stink.

Luckily me and Mick have a plan.
Early tomorrow morning we’re leaving
and going to another village or another country.
And our families will never hear from us again.

Maybe, just maybe, they’ll read in the newspaper:
Two brothers looking for parents.
Trial period: one year. Dogs: a bonus.
Children not a problem.

What Boys Aren't Allowed to Do

Nick and I are boys
and there’s so much that boys aren't allowed to do:

- stay up until half past two watching scary zombie shows
- have sleepovers on school nights
- ride our bikes with no hands
- copy in the way-too-difficult-words spelling test
- let someone else copy in the way-too-difficult-words spelling test
- take the keyhole saw and the hammer drill to our hideout
- say the swearword ****
- get the ball off the roof without Dad and without a ladder
- have a second sip of beer
- talk about who’s the strongest, bears or lions, while the teacher’s explaining a sum
- then say “Lions, of course,” anyway
- sit next to each other at school
- ask Mum what’s for dinner when she’s in a yoga pose

We’re boys
and there’s sooo much that boys aren't allowed to do.

That’s why it’s only in secret
and only when no one can see
that I give Nick
a kiss. 

Protector

My sweet little
super little
baby brother.

I want to hold him in my arms,
dress him in tiny little trousers made of polystyrene,
a teeny little T-shirt made of bubble wrap.

I want to put a mini bike helmet on him,
mini armbands, mini elbow protectors,
mini knee protectors, mini wrist protectors.

I want to build a fort around his bed,
I want to give him three, four – no, five – guard dogs
and a gaggle of guard geese too.

I want to protect my baby brother.

But first, with all that crying,
it’s my own ears
I need to protect.