In friendship dedicated to Geert Verbeke


Oh yes,
I was born
the wrong side
of the track

I never lied about it
was proud of it
wouldn't think of hiding

hat I was born
the other side
of the track

I confessed,
undeniably,
convincingly,
uncontroversially,
irretriev­ably

that I was born
the wrong side
of the track

but the more I insisted,
the more I persisted,
the more I conceded,
the more they said
that I was lying

for, they said,
nobody the wrong side
of the track
can lie that sincerely,

nobody who's able
to play the part
that well

to tell tales
so veraciously
so reliably

can be born
the wrong side
of the track

so now I lie
about not being born
the wrong side
of the track

and lo and behold
now they believe me

for, they say,
nobody born
the wrong side of the track
can lie that well

she is the queen
of the festival
that girl that claimed

to be born
the wrong side
of the track