Alpine Hunter's Song by Paul van Ostaijen

(Original title: Alpenjagerslied - from: De spiegel van de Nederlandse poëzie, dichters van de twintigste eeuw - 
samenstelling: Hans Warren - 1989 - Uitgeverij Meulenhoff, Amsterdam.) 

Paul van Ostaijen
[1896-1928]

Alpine Hunter's Song

                         For E. du Perron

A gent descends the street
a gent mounts the street
two gents descend and mount
that is one gent descends
and the other gent mounts

right in front of the shop of Hinderickx and Winderickx
right in front of the shop of Hinderickx and Winderickx
                                                          of the famous hatters
they meet each other
one gent takes his top hat in his right hand
the other gent takes his top hat in his left hand
then the one and the other gent go
the right and the left the mounting and the descending
the right one who descends
the left one who mounts
then both gents left
each with his own top hat his own top hat his bloody
                                                                     own top hat
passing each other
right in front of the door
of the shop
of Hinderickx and Winderickx
of the famous hatters
then both gents put
the right and the left, the mounting and the descending
once past each other
their top hats back on their heads
you heard it right
 
each puts his own hat on his own head
that is their right
that is the right of these two gents