Op de dag voor Kerstmis hebben we kerstlichtjes geplaatst op geallieerde graven.
(Today we did place candles on the graves and by the monument)
a light of hope
a light from human to human
a light of do not forget
a light for reflection
countless graves here tell
of insane war
of refined and brute violence
taking lives and dignity
and of resistance against it
here exist countless reasons
for the same number of lights
although we know you, fallen soldier,
not personally
we reconfirm you
as fellow human
and give, symbolically,
some dignity back
in doing so, we also exorcise
the shame in ourselves
the dark side of the human being
we hunt it back into the corner
into the cage, the institutions we
created for living together
the cage we sometimes curse
but cherish in vulnerable moments
lights give us hope
especially in dark times
with the lighting
we hold ourselves
and each other, for a moment
making their passing worthy
their lives more important
so important—to us, too
(Aangepast versie van © Sander Essers)
