Ode to Annie M.G. SchmidtYou dared to change the world with language.
Annie M.G. Schmidt, photo Marcel Antonisse (source: Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 NL)
Anna Maria Geertruida Schmidt,
You were a hit with us since childhood,
from the adventures of Pluk, to the schuk, that Jip and Janneke accidentally stressed a piece of our soul.
How you were allowed to be naughty as a girl, naughty yet so nice.
Sweet, pink, blood, fear never stirred in us, because with your fairy tales you held our hand and gave us courage, courage to dare.
Not knowing, good or bad, yet you gave us the right, the right to try, to do, to dream and even fail, fail, fall, free, in the end always happy again, because woman, that's us.
Anna Maria, do you hear me?
You dared to change the world with language, for the girl who lives in all of us, your vision remains special, Annie, you were our greatest story.
We were four, when your art filled our eyes with ornament.
Annie oh Annie, your knowing during brought us joy and whooping giggles full of fun.
Your words as sharp as a sword, in my eyes you are worthy of this tribute.
