Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
Nov 2023 · 267
[ Mother just lies there ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Mother just lies there.

Mama, do you hear me, please --


Mama, please wake up!
Poem "antie Gerty, suster Kamfer, antie Trui" ("aunt Gerty, sister Kamfer, aunt Trui", 2016, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Home sea"
Nov 2023 · 178
[ Just tell who you are ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Just tell who you are,

tell it like a story, then --


it won't be too bad.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Two Atlantics

Collection "Appearances"
Nov 2023 · 247
[ In the dark I can ]
Zywa Nov 2023
In the dark I can

see what I want, like a book --


a bed, my mother.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Two Atlantics

Collection "Within the walls"
Nov 2023 · 204
[ I learn the stories ]
Zywa Nov 2023
I learn the stories

while I'm listening to them --


While I'm telling them.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Known point in the darkness

Collection "Held/True"
Nov 2023 · 328
[ Well, ultimately ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Well, ultimately,

human beings are born from --


the same Father: Chance.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Two Atlantics

Collection "Chance"
Nov 2023 · 646
[ I'm fully present ]
Zywa Nov 2023
I'm fully present,

my body, all my senses --


here, in this garden.
Composition "Saor" ("Free", 2022, Claire M Singer), for five organs, performed by her on November 11th, 2023 in the Organpark

Collection "org anp ark" #317
Zywa Nov 2023
The wind blows, the trees

are bare and wet, the full moon --


glides pale behind them.
Title of the Sinterklaas-song "Zie, de maan schijnt door de bomen" ("Look, the moon shines through the trees", 1861, Jan Pieter Heije; music Jan Viotta)

Collection "Within the walls"
Nov 2023 · 274
[ A rubber bath duck ]
Zywa Nov 2023
A rubber bath duck,

croaking in an ***** pipe --


participating.
Composition "Saor" ("Free", 2022, Claire M Singer), for five organs, performed by her on November 11th, 2023 in the Organpark

Collection "org anp ark" #318
Nov 2023 · 669
[ Two people will form ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Two people will form

a community, any --


trio will split up.
Saying among the members of the various Reformed churches in Holland (Michigan), from AD 1847 - quite different from "two's company, three's a crowd"

Collection "Wean Di"
Nov 2023 · 297
[ Back from the city ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Back from the city,

I clearly see, rich people --


here are just paupers.
Novel "Ierse nachten" (1942, "Irish Nights", Simon Vestdijk), chapters 4-1 and 4-5, Letters to Saint Patrick (AD 1859)

Collection "Inmost [2]"
Nov 2023 · 165
[ With power one has ]
Zywa Nov 2023
With power one has

much more authority than --


a scholar or saint.
Novel "Ierse nachten" (1942, "Irish Nights", Simon Vestdijk), chapter 4-3, Letters to Saint Patrick (AD 1859)

Collection "Inmost [2]"
Nov 2023 · 264
[ The wobbling chair has ]
Zywa Nov 2023
The wobbling chair has

only two legs, and a rope --


to the ceiling beam.
Novel "Ierse nachten" (1942, "Irish Nights", Simon Vestdijk), chapter 4-1, Letters to Saint Patrick (AD 1859)

Collection "Inmost [2]"
Nov 2023 · 693
[ Beware, your body ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Beware, your body

is a prey for the devil --


He makes you hungry.
Novel "Ierse nachten" (1942, "Irish Nights", Simon Vestdijk), chapter 4-4, Letters to Saint Patrick (AD 1859)

Collection "Inmost [2]"
Nov 2023 · 461
[ Over there: the Ocean ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Over there: the Ocean,

inside me another one --


Without Lighthouses.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Two Atlantics

Collection "MistI"
Nov 2023 · 783
[ Safety: high walls all ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Safety: high walls all

around, and a large bell jar --


with firing angels.
Israel's air defense system "Kipat barzel" ("Iron Dome"), operational since 2011

Collection "From Sacred Scriptures [1]"
Nov 2023 · 107
[ When do people still ]
Zywa Nov 2023
When do people still

wonder? You know, there's so much --


they have seen before.
Novel "Sexing the cherry" (1989, Jeanette Winterson), chapter "1990" (Anno Domini 1990)

Collection "No wonder"
Nov 2023 · 242
[ My alibi is ]
Zywa Nov 2023
My alibi is

simply that I don't want to --


betray my comrades.
Novel "Ierse nachten" (1942, "Irish Nights", Simon Vestdijk), chapter 2-1, Guerilla in the peat (AD 1856)

Collection "Inmost [2]"
Nov 2023 · 837
[ I am an island ]
Zywa Nov 2023
I am an island,

I just have to wait and see --


if Love docks with me.
Novel "Sexing the cherry" (1989, Jeanette Winterson), chapter "1649" (Anno Domini 1649)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 80s and 90s"
Nov 2023 · 209
[ Stories that end well ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Stories that end well...

well, there really aren't any --


There are no endings.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Known point in the darkness

Collection "Stream"
Nov 2023 · 371
[ The timpani warm ]
Zywa Nov 2023
The timpani warm

up, gently stirring the voice --


in their big bellies.
Composition "Saeta" (1949, Elliot Carter), from: "Eight Pieces for Four Timpani", for four timpani, performed by Darío Antón Doiz on November 2nd, 2023 in the Organpark

Collection "org anp ark", #314
Nov 2023 · 909
[ The circus! Led by ]
Zywa Nov 2023
The circus! Led by

the animal with the nose --


that can walk along.
Novel "Sexing the cherry" (1989, Jeanette Winterson), chapter 1

Collection "Specialities"
Nov 2023 · 877
[ When I am with you ]
Zywa Nov 2023
When I am with you,

so close that I become you --


I sing myself out.
"om te ver-jy" - 4 / "waar ek jy word" - 4 ("to become you" - 4 / "where I become you" - 4, 2009, Antjie Krog)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"
Nov 2023 · 114
[ Man as Creator ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Man as Creator

keeps grafting new qualities --


onto ancient roots.
Novel "Sexing the cherry" (1989, Jeanette Winterson), chapter "1649" (Anno Domini 1649)
Romans 11:19-20 Jewish branches are broken off in order to graft the shoots of the Christian faith onto the trunk of the Old Covenant

Collection "No wonder"
Nov 2023 · 188
[ That's just how life is ]
Zywa Nov 2023
That's just how life is,

you must take risks, you have to --


incur expenses.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter A place before the Flood

Collection "Passage Passion"
Nov 2023 · 247
[ I know decency ]
Zywa Nov 2023
I know decency,

I know, later I too will --


behave properly.
Poem "Dame in progress" (2008, "Lady in progress", 2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Stall"
Nov 2023 · 248
[ A photo, I'm six ]
Zywa Nov 2023
A photo, I'm six,

in the garden I bury --


a box with secrets.
Poem "dood in die familie" (2008, "death in the family", 2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Glimpsed"
Nov 2023 · 713
[ I said what I thought ]
Zywa Nov 2023
I said what I thought

I knew about dust, that it --


does not turn to dust.
Poem "stof" (2008, "dust", 2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Germ Substance"
Nov 2023 · 2.3k
[ I tell everything ]
Zywa Nov 2023
I tell everything.

You look at me guiltily --


I understand you.
Poem "en as ek klaar my verhaal vir jou vertel het" (2008, "and when i have finished telling you my story", 2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"
Zywa Nov 2023
There's a strange hand with

pointing fingers on my thigh --


and it excites me.
Painting "The Loneliness of Skin" (1983, Marlene Dumas)

Collection "Eyes lips chest and belly"
Nov 2023 · 263
[ She pulls her dress up ]
Zywa Nov 2023
She pulls her dress up

to her face and then freezes --


hiding it in shame.
Painting "The Cover-up" (1994, Marlene Dumas)

Collection "Imprints Masks"
Nov 2023 · 276
[ Under the bottom ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Under the bottom

the star clusters angrily --


stare at the people.
Painting "Jesus is boos" ("Jesus is crossed", 1983, Marlene Dumas)

Collection "Ifless"
Nov 2023 · 432
[ You jump the queue, but ]
Zywa Nov 2023
You jump the queue, but

why do you want that, your soul --


being left behind?
Comic strip "Asterix  L'Iris blanc" ("Asterix and the White Iris", 2023, Fabrice Caro ('Fabcaro'), illustrations by Didier Conrad), saying of the Roman medical officer Isivertuus to Impedimenta

Collection "Truder"
Nov 2023 · 1.4k
[ Why are you afraid ]
Zywa Nov 2023
Why are you afraid?

Does it give you the reward --


of fewer hard hits?
Comic strip "Asterix  L'Iris blanc" ("Asterix and the White Iris", 2023, Fabrice Caro ('Fabcaro'), illustrations by Didier Conrad), the Roman medical officer Isivertuus addresses the soldiers

Collection "Shelter"
Oct 2023 · 458
[ True Love! Be happy ]
Zywa Oct 2023
True Love! Be happy

when you find it, be happy --


you're looking for it.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Great Exhibition [AD 1851]

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"
Zywa Oct 2023
Miss Pinch holds the word

Women like a mouse away --


from her, by its tail.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Great Exhibition [AD 1851]

Collection "Low gear"
Oct 2023 · 503
[ You did, you said: I ]
Zywa Oct 2023
You did, you said: I.

How dare you! What do you think!


That you are something?
"Citizen: An American Lyric" - VII (2014, Claudia Rankine)

Collection "May the Might"
Oct 2023 · 467
[ You did, you said: you ]
Zywa Oct 2023
You did, you said: you.

As if I just have to be --


obliging to you.
"Citizen: An American Lyric" - VII (2014, Claudia Rankine)

Collection "May the Might"
Oct 2023 · 392
[ Nothing goes to hell ]
Zywa Oct 2023
Nothing goes to hell

with a big bang, it always --


happens with moaning.
Poem "owner's response" - 1651 statement from the Khoi-leader Autshumao, to Jan van Riebeeck (2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Human excess"
Oct 2023 · 293
[ The down comforter ]
Zywa Oct 2023
The down comforter

is thin, few feathers, sticking --


out, scratching, pricking.
Novel "Lighthousekeeping" (2004, Jeanette Winterson), chapter Two Atlantics

Collection "Blankets of snow"
Oct 2023 · 251
[ We are on the way ]
Zywa Oct 2023
We are on the way,

and we know well: not one road --


leads to an end point.
"On the Road" - "The Original Scroll" (1951, Jack Kerouac), about his activities in 1947-1950, published in 1957/2007, chapter Book Four; Neal Cassidy

Collection "MistI"
Oct 2023 · 378
[ I want to create ]
Zywa Oct 2023
I want to create

what is not there, not as art --


but genuine Love!
"Denver Doldrums" (1947, Allen Ginsberg)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in de 40s and 50s"
Oct 2023 · 384
[ The poem opens ]
Zywa Oct 2023
The poem opens

a window where I expect --


to go through a door.
Poem "ingenieur" ("engineer", 2022, Emilie Dewitte)

Collection "Specialities"
Oct 2023 · 111
[ I had to do it ]
Zywa Oct 2023
I had to do it,

but the choice I made felt like --


someone else's coat.
Poem "keuzes" ("choices", 2022, Emilie Dewitte)

Collection "Specialities"
Oct 2023 · 285
[ Father's green leather ]
Zywa Oct 2023
Father's green leather

briefcase is in the kitchen--


filled with many dreams.
"Mooi Mitchy en sy pa se groen leersak of nie" ("Pretty Mitchy and his father's green leather bag or not", 2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Glimpsed"
Zywa Oct 2023
The cupboard, crammed full

of my memories won't close --


Out! Out! Out! they push.
"oorvertel 5" - Mei 2010 ("retell 5" - May 2010, 2011, Ronelda Kamfer)

Collection "Being my own museum"
Oct 2023 · 802
[ Around your presence ]
Zywa Oct 2023
Around your presence,

everything becomes gloomy --


So stay in my eyes!
Prose poem "Being Beauteous" (1875, Arthur Rimbaud), set to music in 1938-1939 by Benjamin Britten (opus 18)

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Zywa Oct 2023
Come all through the gate

of our wedding: Be welcome --


to our paradise!
Prose poem "Royauté" ("Royal power", 1875, Arthur Rimbaud), set to music in 1938-1939 by Benjamin Britten (opus 18)

Collection "Love Mind and Death"
Oct 2023 · 130
[ When terror is far ]
Zywa Oct 2023
When terror is far

away, you can just remain --


on your pet subject.
Column "Leeg" ("Empty", 2023, Marcel van Roosmalen)

Collection "Stall"
Zywa Oct 2023
There's the nagging pain

of violence, and worse, of --


chatting about it.
Column "Leeg" ("Empty", 2023, Marcel van Roosmalen)

Collection "Stall"
Oct 2023 · 631
[ I slept like a bean ]
Zywa Oct 2023
I slept like a bean

in the pod of my car, in --


my cradle, my egg.
Poem "The Egg" (1967, Louise Glück)

Collection "Stream"
Next page