Vanessa, één van de inwoners van Aardenburg meldde het volgende: “De Nigeriaanse dichter en schrijver Ben Okri heeft een aantal gedichten geschreven naar aanleiding van de expositie van Elly Strik in Madrid in 2014. Hij heeft ze daar ook voorgedragen. Het eerste is niet speciaal voor die gelegenheid geschreven, maar ik vind het geweldig goed passen bij het werk Collective Twinge van Elly Strik.”

Collective Twinge, 2019 | Keramiek, gemummificeerde appel, kleurpotlood, grafiet, olie en pigment op papier, 50,5 x 37,5 x 6,5 cm | Foto Wietse Jongsma
Dit is het gedicht:
Beyond – Ben Okri
One
New Man and New Woman
spoke in the darkness.
They spoke like children
discovering light.
Much time had passed
and no time at all.
“Now let’s start again”
said New Man.
“And again”
said New Woman.
“Go back to the earth.”
“To simple beginnings.”
“To what nourishes.”
“To what grows.”
“To sunlight.”
“And flowing water.”
“To inner light.”
“And fresh air.”
“Good breathing.”
“And sweet silence.”
“To new dancing.”
“And music.”
Two
“Let’s go back to the source”
said New Woman
“Of rivers.”
“Of worlds.”
“Of dreams.”
“Of realities.”
“Of friendship.”
“Of fellowship.”
“Of what the heart feels.”
Three
“Let’s dream again” said New Man
“Like we used to as kids.”
“Of Eden when it was new.”
“And after we have restored it.”
“With love.”
“With courage.”
“With patience.”
“And wisdom.”
Four
“Let’s play again” said New Woman
“As on the first day.”
“When we were in the garden.”
“And the garden was us.”
Five
“Let’s be happy again” said New Man
“As on the first day.”
”When all love was ours.”
“As it still is.”
“And always will be.”
They both said together
“As one.”