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Oct 2024 · 195
[ Clothes being blown up ]
Zywa Oct 2024
Clothes being blown up

from the grass by the river --


What could have happened?
Poem "Achter het einde" ("Beyond the end", 1931, Gerrit Achterberg)

Collection "Inwardings"
Oct 2024 · 1.2k
[ A full moon tonight ]
Zywa Oct 2024
A full moon tonight,

light pink like a peach, perfect --


and inedible.
Poem "het meesterwerk: lichtrose maan, vol" ("the masterpiece: light-pink moon, full", 1978, Gerrit Kouwenaar)

Collection "Inwardings"
Oct 2024 · 120
[ My house is getting ]
Zywa Oct 2024
My house is getting

overgrown, and so am I --


by my memories.
Poem by the Japanese emperor Juntoku (1197-1242): Momoshiki ya / Furuki nokiba no / Shinobu ni mo / Nao amari aru / Mukashi nari keri

Collection "Inwardings"
Oct 2024 · 116
[ Cradle great sadness ]
Zywa Oct 2024
Cradle great sadness

in music, there are no words --


that can carry it.
Interview "Tussen het brullen door" ("In between wailing") by Frénk van der Linden with Anna Enquist, about "De ijsdragers" ("The ice bearers"), in the NRC Handelsblad of February 1st, 2002

Collection "Blankets of snow"
Oct 2024 · 105
[ He looks tired, a bit ]
Zywa Oct 2024
He looks tired, a bit

tarnished already, but sweet --


Right to be coddled.
Novella "De ijsdragers" ("The ice bearers", 2002, Anna Enquist), chapter 1

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"
Sep 2024 · 398
[ I take the highest ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I take the highest

stone, the very mountain top --


and I throw it down.
Poem "legenda" ("legend", 2017, Dorien de Wit), submitted for the Turing Poetry Competition (2017), published in the collection "never end the day with a question"

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Sep 2024 · 72
[ I'm not alone, you ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I'm not alone, you

always keep me company --


I'm thinking of you.
Poem "O amor é uma companha" ("Love is a companion", 1930, Alberto Caeiro [Fernando Pessoa] )

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Sep 2024 · 656
[ I wish to begin ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I wish to begin

the day without reserve, like --


the skylark, cheerful.
Poem "may i be gay" (1954, Edward Cummings)

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Sep 2024 · 120
[ The cows float about ]
Zywa Sep 2024
The cows float about,

bobbing in the green, ******* --


they hoist their tail sails.
Poem "Zee der koeien" ("Sea of the cows", 2000, Rodaan al Galidi)

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Zywa Sep 2024
The hounds sniff the ground,

fallen leaves and moss, they are --


no longer hunting.
Novel "De honden jagen niet meer" ("The hounds no longer hunt", 1979, Albert Alberts)

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Sep 2024 · 214
[ I take my mother ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I take my mother

on her last journey and God --


himself welcomes her.
Play "Peer Gynt" (1867, Henrik Ibsen; music Edvard Grieg, 1876), third act, "Åses død" ("The death of Åse")

Collection "VacantVoid"
Sep 2024 · 156
[ Wonderful, no sound ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Wonderful, no sound,

the carpet is thick, I walk --


back and forth again.
Novel "De vergaderzaal" ("The conference room", 1974, Albert Alberts)

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Sep 2024 · 134
[ Darling, you can die ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Darling, you can die

peacefully, you'll stay with me --


cradled in my heart.
Play "Peer Gynt" (1867, Henrik Ibsen; music Edvard Grieg, 1876), fifth act, "Solveigs vuggevise" ("Solveig's cradle song")

Collection "VacantVoid"
Sep 2024 · 149
[ Heerlijk, geen geluid ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Heerlijk, geen geluid,

het tapijt is dik, ik loop --


nog eens heen en weer.
Roman "De vergaderzaal" (1974, Albert Alberts)

Bundel "ZielZinZon"
Sep 2024 · 92
[ It would be so nice ]
Zywa Sep 2024
It would be so nice,

in winter and in summer:


coming home to you.
Song "You'd be so nice to come home to" (1942, Cole Porter, for the film "Something to shout about"), sung in 1960 by Nina Simone on the album "Nina Simone at Newport"

Collection "Home sea"
Sep 2024 · 87
[ The tear in her eye ]
Zywa Sep 2024
The tear in her eye

gives me enough certainty:


she does long for me!
Opera "L'elisir d'amore" ("The Love Potion", 1832, Gaetano Donizetti, libretto Felice Romani, based on Eugène Scribe's libretto of the opera "Le philtre" [The magic potion] from 1831), second act, romance (air) "Una furtiva lagrima" ("A furtive tear" - Nemorino)

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 100
[ I was trying to ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I was trying to

pull my hand loose, but my will --


then got stuck somewhere.
Comical novel "The Black Prince" (1973, Iris Murdoch), A Celebration of Love, part Two

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 224
[ With the wedding ring ]
Zywa Sep 2024
With the wedding ring

he promises his body --


to her, to serve her.
The "Book of Common Prayer" (second version, 1552) prescribes that at a marriage the groom puts the wedding ring upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand and thereby says: With this ring I thee wedde; with my body I thee worship; and with all my worldly goodes I thee endow

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 321
[ I finger my gift ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I finger my gift

for her, it's almost as if --


she gave it to me.
Comical novel "The Black Prince" (1973, Iris Murdoch), A Celebration of Love, part Two

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 194
[ Something is coming ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Something is coming

and it's making me restless --


It's a spring feeling.
Song "It might as well be spring" (1945, Oscar Hammerstein II, music Richard Rodgers, for the film "State Fair"), sung in 1955 by Sarah Vaughan, in 1958 by Nina Simone (album "The Amazing Nina Simone") and in 1961 by Frank Sinatra

Collection "Finethreads"
Sep 2024 · 119
[ Tears well up, how warm ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Tears well up, how warm

they are, I didn't receive this --


gift for a long time.
Comical novel "The Black Prince" (1973, Iris Murdoch), A Celebration of Love, part Two

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 100
[ I'll be fine, but you ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I'll be fine, but you,

whoever you'll love, don't smoke --


in bed anymore.
Song "Don't smoke in bed" (1947, Willard Robinson), sung in 1957 by Nina Simone (album "Little Girl Blue", 1959)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 40s and 50s"
Sep 2024 · 48
[ Hold me and kiss me ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Hold me and kiss me,

I love you, forever, for --


as long as it lasts.
Song "For all we know" (1934, Sam Lewis, music J. Fred Coots), sung in 1958 by Nina Simone (album "The Amazing Nina Simone")

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 111
[ My lover doesn't care ]
Zywa Sep 2024
My lover doesn't care

for money and not for things --


He just cares for me.
Song "My baby just cares for me" (1930, Gus Kahn, music Walter Donaldson, for the movie-adaptation of the musical "Whoopee!"), sung in 1949 by Nat King Cole and in 1957 by Nina Simone (album "Little Girl Blue", 1959)

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 119
[ A confused person ]
Zywa Sep 2024
A confused person

still assumes that others know --


what they are doing.
Comical novel "The Black Prince" (1973, Iris Murdoch), A Celebration of Love, part Two

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 122
[ I walk the city ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I walk the city,

a mysterious woman --


for the passers-by.
Novel "The Message to the Planet" (1989, Iris Murdoch), part Three

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 58
[ I don't have to dress ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I don't have to dress

up for him, he is okay --


a family friend.
Novel "The Message to the Planet" (1989, Iris Murdoch), part Three

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 139
[ A Divine Spirit ]
Zywa Sep 2024
A Divine Spirit,

I can believe in that, but --


God does not need me.
Novel "The Message to the Planet" (1989, Iris Murdoch), part Three

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 80
[ The actors point to ]
Zywa Sep 2024
The actors point to

the spectators, us, the gods --


making the choices.
Play "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" (1607, William Shakespeare), performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in summer 2024 (direction Tamara Harvey) --- Collection "Known"
Sep 2024 · 227
[ There is no beauty ]
Zywa Sep 2024
There is no beauty

with the dishes, not even --


a dream of real life.
Poem "No Images" (1924, William Waring Cuney), sung a cappella in 1966 by Nina Simone (album "Let it all out") --- Collection "Within the walls"
Sep 2024 · 62
[ He doesn't but I do ]
Zywa Sep 2024
He doesn't but I do

realise that he needs me --


and me, I need him.
Song "He needs me" (1930, Arthur Hamilton), sung in 1955 by Peggy Lee and in 1957 by Nina Simone (album "Little Girl Blue", 1959)

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 147
[ Hush now, my darling]
Zywa Sep 2024
Hush now, my darling,

I really don't need to know --


I can endure this.
Song "Don't explain" (1944, Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr, released in 1946), sung in 1966 by Nina Simone (album "Let it all out")

Collection "Em Brace"
Sep 2024 · 197
[ Whoever never ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Whoever never

had that night-black feelings can --


not know my sadness.
Song "Mood Indigo" (1930, Irving Mills, music Duke Ellington), sung in 1955 by Frank Sinatra (album "In the Wee Small Hours") and in 1957 by Nina Simone (album "Little Girl Blue", 1959) --- Collection "VacantVoid"
Sep 2024 · 174
[ No, I won't borrow ]
Zywa Sep 2024
No, I won't borrow

your love from anyone else --


Give all or nothing!
Song "Love me or leave me" (1928, Gus Kahn, music Walter Donaldson, for the musical "Whoopee!"), sung in 1957 by Nina Simone (album "Little Girl Blue", 1959) --- Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 328
[ In the dressing room ]
Zywa Sep 2024
In the dressing room

I have seen smooth-shaven girls --


I've seen what you want.
Poem "Ik weet niet *** je me graag ziet" ("I don't know how you like me", 2008, Wineke de Boer)
Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"
Sep 2024 · 977
[ Mama's big rainbow ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Mama's big rainbow

umbrella keeps me nice and --


dry in the shower.
Poem "In het huis van je vader" ("In your father's house", 2009, Krijn Peter Hesselink)

Collection "SoulSenseSun"
Sep 2024 · 257
[ It's beautiful stuff ]
Zywa Sep 2024
It's beautiful stuff,

this pale yellow braided rope --


I smell retsina.
Novel "The sea, the sea" (1978, Iris Murdoch)

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 809
[ People's fame only ]
Zywa Sep 2024
People's fame only

lasts a short time, that I learned --


from theatre plays.
Novel "The sea, the sea" (1978, Iris Murdoch)

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 237
[ Music in the night ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Music in the night:

a prayer that lifts me up --


high into heaven.
Air "Tacea la notte placida" ("Silent is the night, peaceful"), 1853, opera "Il trovatore" ("The troubadour", Salvatore Cammarano / Giuseppe Verdi) - Leonora, act 1

Collection "Held/True"
Sep 2024 · 345
[ I have packed my things ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I have packed my things

and I am very surprised --


that they are so few.
Novel "The Message to the Planet" (1989, Iris Murdoch), part Six

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 106
[ Little are their high ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Little are their high

expectations - if you fall


you're hardly noticed.
Column "Alleen maar opwaarts" ("Only up", 2024, Ellen Deckwitz), in the NRC of September 10th, 2024

About the painting "[Landschap met] De val van Icarus" ("Landscape with the Fall of Icarus", 1565, Pieter Brueghel de Oude)

Collection "Glimpsed"
Sep 2024 · 418
[ The further I am ]
Zywa Sep 2024
The further I am

travelling, the less I know --


actually know.
"Tao Te Ching" #47 (ca. 300 BC)

Song "The Inner Light" (1968, George Harrison & The Beatles)

Collection "Glimpsed"
Sep 2024 · 152
[ Hold me, hold our love ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Hold me, hold our love,

which is already slipping --


away from our hearts.
Song "Hou me vast" ("Hold me", 2023, Wende Snijders)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 20s"
Sep 2024 · 573
[ We were here before ]
Zywa Sep 2024
We were here before;

then, like blind people, we didn't --


notice each other.
Short story "September in the Rain" (2024, Marijke Schermer), in the NRC of September 5th, 2024

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 20s"
Sep 2024 · 307
[ Ladies, you know it ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Ladies, you know it,

so tell me, are cold and heat --


the symptoms of Love?
Air "Voi che sapete" ("You who know (what love is)"), 1786, opera "Le nozze di Figaro" ("Figaro's wedding", Lorenzo da Ponte / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), based on the comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais - Act 2

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Sep 2024 · 260
[ There are no limits ]
Zywa Sep 2024
There are no limits

to culture, kitsch flourishes --


and it overgrows.
Novel "The Message to the Planet" (1989, Iris Murdoch), part Seven

Collection "Unspoken"
Sep 2024 · 160
[ On the bus we greet ]
Zywa Sep 2024
On the bus we greet,

knowing each other's faces --


knowing nothing more.
Song "Tagelyk" ("Simultaneously", 2023, Nyk de Vries), album "Tagelyk", music Artvark Saxophone Quartet

Collection "Wean Di"
Zywa Sep 2024
Come down from your throne,

do what poor people do, and --


learn something from it.
Quest (search for wisdom) "Karel ende Elegast" (Charlemagne and Elbegast, 1270, Anon. [Vlaanderen]) - Elbegast is the King of the Elves

Collection "Within the walls"
Sep 2024 · 434
[ I don't know where to ]
Zywa Sep 2024
I don't know where to,

so I can't go anywhere --


Threatening looks then.
Novel "De vergaderzaal" ("The conference room", 1974, Albert Alberts)

Collection "Within the walls"
Sep 2024 · 420
[ Voices around me ]
Zywa Sep 2024
Voices around me,

which I cannot understand,


coffee: the meeting.
Novel "De vergaderzaal" ("The conference room", 1974, Albert Alberts)

Collection "Within the walls"
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