Leeg

Joris Iven

STORIES

On several occasions I have said, come close, my love. We have

never promised each other much, because we knew how hard it is

to keep promises. We have not promised anything, but we were to

tell each other all our stories and listen to each other’s stories.

We find it so hard to begin. And the stories are restricted to

children, parents, sweethearts, a few friends. Do you remember?

That the ice broke and my sister fell through it. That my mother

ran after her and years later met her death. Do you remember?

That I left by train and that my father wept on the platform.

We recall the details of great wholes. That my sister

pestered me and won it off me. That my father stifled his past

in silence and dreamt of St. Petersburg. That my mother

apportioned blame and I lied to her. What was important

was not stated. Twenty-five years have passed.

And you have said, come close, my love. I have abandoned women

and sworn to children that I loved them. We can always

begin and find each time an ending, but we have no story.

We return to memories and miss the story.