Benne van der Velde – Cheers

Prolific Dutch creative Benne van der Velde lets us in as witnesses to coming to terms with grief in his poem “Cheers”. In his raw and unflinching way, Benne reveals the power in being authentic and vulnerable, in being open with intimacy, doubt, and grief, in giving a name to a threat.

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Cheers

For her I will and still stand tall
when we shrink from want and pain,
the wear and tear of parents,
this love that hurts from those who care
but for you I pose in vain.

I call people by their names
and bow to those who ask for mine.
My love and I we break because
giving you a name feels fine,
but only after some more wine.

Blue for her and sure why not
pink for him I could get used to.
I’d forsake my blacks and whites,
trade for any tainted light
as your true colors won’t shine through.

What was left were just my prayers.
I gave all Gods my monthly grief.
I asked the doctor who to pray to,
which God in our midst I’d dare to
now that I’ve also lost belief.

We have got a dog and yes, a cat
and do whatever we both want to.
Sometimes two to many wines,
sometimes way too many wines
to talk about you or we can’t.

We’ve got a cat and quite the dog
and do whatever others can’t do!
Sometimes two to many wines,
sometimes way too many wines.
As many as we fucking want to

talk about you.

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Read On: Related Posts

• William Stafford’s Looking Across the River
• Gurdjieff and The Two Rivers
• Behind Me – dips Eternity – Emily Dickinson
• Pamela Wax – Capricorn Loses His Star
• Barry Casey – Wait Here