"My verses stand gawping a bit. I never get used to this. They've lived here long enough"

In this quote, Hugo Claus is assessing his own writing. He is expressing his shock and pain at how his verses, or rhymes, are received by the public. He is saying that his verses are frequently met admiration and also appreciation, as well as he is not used to this sort of focus. He implies that his verses have actually been around for a while, and he is still not utilized to the attention they receive.

This quote talks with the suggestion that even one of the most knowledgeable authors can still be surprised by the responses of their readers. It also talks to the suggestion that even after a long period of time, an author can still be startled by the action to their work. It is a pointer that despite just how experienced an author is, they can still be surprised by the reactions of their readers.