Zywa: Poems

Feb 28 · 162

[ Just live like a bus ]

Zywa Feb 28

[ Just live like a bus ]

Just live like a bus

driver, all the diversions --

then become the route.

Column in De Standaard (2025, An Olaerts)

Collection "Stream"

#course #life #lesson

Feb 28 · 116

[ Behind the walls there's ]

Zywa Feb 28

[ Behind the walls there's ]

Behind the walls there's

a party, and the river --

still remains frozen.

Book "Het geheim van de schrijver" ("The writer's secret", 2000, Renate Dorrestein), part 'Faith', chapter 'About Doing your own thing'

Collection "Old sore"

#alone

Feb 27 · 270

[ Mountains around me ]

Zywa Feb 27

[ Mountains around me ]

Mountains around me,

silence, the space, and the wind --

that I can be here.

Novel "Tutto il cielo che serve" ("All the sky you need", 2022, Franco Faggiani)

Collection "Thinkles Lusionless"

#freedom #space #mountains

Feb 27 · 79

[ The moon reflected ]

Zywa Feb 27

[ The moon reflected ]

The moon reflected,

flowers floating in the wind:

such are human lives.

Poem "I was born into this world" by the Zen-monk Gizan Zenrai (1801-1878), included in the 1986 collection "Japanese Death Poems", compiled by Yoel Hoffmann:
I was born into this world / I leave it at my death. / Into a thousand towns / My legs have carried me, / And countless homes - / What are all these? / A moon reflected in the water / A flower floating in the sky / **!

Collection "Thinkles Lusionless"

#life

Feb 26 · 256

[ Well, when would one be ]

Zywa Feb 26

[ Well, when would one be ]

Well, when would one be

too old to do that, kissing --

under a shelter?

Novel "Onder de korenmaat" ("Under the bushel", 1991, Maarten 't Hart), chapter 10

Collection "The Note Tree"

#behaviour #shame #kiss #decency

Feb 26 · 115

[ Urban renewal ]

Zywa Feb 26

[ Urban renewal ]

Urban renewal,

but the footway is the same --

as when I played there.

Novel "Onder de korenmaat" ("Under the bushel", 1991, Maarten 't Hart), chapter 20

Collection "The Note Tree"

#memory #childhood

Feb 25 · 139

[ As we know, people ]

Zywa Feb 25

[ As we know, people ]

As we know, people

like to play, preferably --

with favourite thoughts.

Story "Het laatste getuigenis" ("The last testimony", 1946, Belcampo)

Collection "Finethreads"

#playing #fun #thoughts

Feb 25 · 111

[ The car's answer is ]

Zywa Feb 25

[ The car's answer is ]

The car's answer is:

the meaning of all life comes --

down to 42.

Review of car model Nio EL8 (Bas van Putten in the NRC of February 22nd, 2025), virtual assistant Nomi

Radio comedy (1978) and book (1979) "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (Douglas Adams), supercomputer Deep Thought computes that the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything is 42, adding that the beings who instructed this answer never knew what the question was

Collection "Finethreads"

#meaning #freedom #life

Feb 24 · 240

[ Now that Mum and Dad ]

Zywa Feb 24

[ Now that Mum and Dad ]

Now that Mum and Dad

are so quiet, I observe --

them extra closely.

Novel "Echt ****" ("Really ****", 2007, Renate Dorrestein), chapter Together on a star

Collection "Old sore"

#parents #growingup

Feb 24 · 50

[ Her pouty mouth clear- ]

Zywa Feb 24

[ Her pouty mouth clear- ]

Her pouty mouth clear-

ly shows me that she likes to --

**** on lollipops.

Novel "Echt ****" ("Really ****", 2007, Renate Dorrestein), chapter Together in the park

Collection "Old sore"

#observation

Feb 23 · 201

[ The talking falters ]

Zywa Feb 23

[ The talking falters ]

The talking falters,

that's why I burn poplar wood --

that always crackles.

Novel "Onder de korenmaat" ("Under the bushel", 1991, Maarten 't Hart), chapter 4

Collection "The Note Tree"

#conversation #inlove #exploration

Feb 23 · 67

[ I look at her so ]

Zywa Feb 23

[ I look at her so ]

I look at her so

closely that I can always --

visualise her.

Novel "Onder de korenmaat" ("Under the bushel", 1991, Maarten 't Hart), chapter 5

Collection "The Note Tree"

#inlove

Feb 22 · 1.2k

[ Relax, says a voice ]

Zywa Feb 22

[ Relax, says a voice ]

Relax, says a voice,

and menacingly: one two --

she starts to count down.

Improvisation-composition "Pole" (1970, Karlheinz Stockhausen), for two players/singers with two shortwave receivers, on the occasion of the Expo '70 in Osaka; performed by Robin Rimbaud (electronics), Jakob Lekkerkerker (*****) and Gareth Davis (bass clarinet) on January 18th, 2025 in the Organpark

Collection "org anp ARK" #59

#relaxation #compulsion

Feb 22 · 137

[ What is happening ]

Zywa Feb 22

[ What is happening ]

What is happening

is overexposed, only --

the core can be seen.

Film "Le livre d'image" ("The Image Book", 2018, Jean-Luc Godard)

Collection "Greeting from before"

#perception #focus #attention

Feb 21 · 182

[ I'm restless: the moon ]

Zywa Feb 21

[ I'm restless: the moon ]

I'm restless: the moon

stands still while it is moving --

imperturbably.

Composition "Moon Viewing Music" (2018, Peter Garland), for three gongs, part 6 "Harai arai / kokoro no tsuki no / kagami kana" ("I cleansed the mirror / of my heart - now it reflects / the moon", haiku by Renseki, 1701-1789, from the 1986 collection "Japanese Death Poems", compiled by Yoel Hoffmann), performed in the Organpark on four gongs by Pepe Garcia on February 8th, 2025

Collection "org anp ARK" #89

#attention #focus #moon

Feb 21 · 77

[ The sky is yellow ]

Zywa Feb 21

[ The sky is yellow ]

The sky is yellow

and the deep blue sea turns black --

Light in the houses.

Film "Le livre d'image" ("The Image Book", 2018, Jean-Luc Godard), part 5 "La région centrale" ("The central region", namely the Arab-African countries)

Collection "Greeting from before"

#home #residence

Feb 20 · 133

[ Fragments and flashes ]

Zywa Feb 20

[ Fragments and flashes ]

Fragments and flashes,

at the moment we see them --

they are memories.

Film "Le livre d'image" ("The Image Book", 2018, Jean-Luc Godard)

Collection "Greeting from before"

#present #past #consciousness

Feb 20 · 72

[ The circus, cancan ]

Zywa Feb 20

[ The circus, cancan ]

The circus, cancan,

from times we know so well from --

movies. Black and white.

Film "Le livre d'image" ("The Image Book", 2018, Jean-Luc Godard), part 5 "La région centrale" ("The central region", namely the Arab-African countries), the ending of the movie

Collection "Greeting from before"

#past

Feb 19 · 119

At home

Zywa Feb 19

At home

The wash turns and hums
It sounds content
No birds, quiet
as in a dream

You got up early, I know
how you unfold a shirt
pull it over and enjoy
the cool fabric

...I don't feel like
...getting dressed yet, wait
...at the kitchen counter

...until the tea is brewed
...then I fold your clothes
...very precisely and lay them
...in the closet. What shall I

...cook for you tonight
...and what shall I wear?
...First something warm
...to do the grocery shopping

Collection "More"

#happiness #inlove #love

Feb 19 · 85

[ Love mirrors itself ]

Zywa Feb 19

[ Love mirrors itself ]

Love mirrors itself

to and fro, ever growing-

on its hidden force.

For Dory dK

Collection "More"

#love

Feb 18 · 147

[ Everything changes ]

Zywa Feb 18

[ Everything changes ]

Everything changes.

However, the ocean is --

still the ocean.

Composition "Niet de Zon" ("Not the Sun", 2022; poem, music and arrangement by Izak de Dreu), performed on November 30th, 2024 in the Organpark by Kristia Michael and Amarante Nat (voices), Yiannis Bontis and Juan Cancer Navarro (sackbuts [trombones]), and Francesca Ajossa (harpsichord)

Collection "org anp ARK" #48

#ocean #change

Feb 18 · 139

[ None of the protests ]

Zywa Feb 18

[ None of the protests ]

None of the protests

in the big cities are heard --

in the countryside.

Improvisation-composition "Aus den sieben Tagen" - 15 Textkompositionen für Intuitive Musik ("From the seven days" - 15 text compositions for Intuitive Music, 1968, Karlheinz Stockhausen), for ensemble; selection of 160 minutes, performed by Robin Rimbaud (electronics), Jakob Lekkerkerker (*****) and Gareth Davis (bass clarinet), Roland Dahinden (trombone), Dario Calderone (double bass), Pau Sola Masafrets (cello), Joao Brito (percussion), and Marketa Scaffartzek (voice) on January 19th, 2025 in the Organpark

Collection "org anp ARK" #63

#protest #cities #countryside

Feb 17 · 351

[ In ashen wisps clouds ]

Zywa Feb 17

[ In ashen wisps clouds ]

In ashen wisps clouds

are moving across the sky --

Far away: the moon.

Composition "Moon Viewing Music" (2018, Peter Garland), for three gongs, part 2 "Even more so / because of being alone / the moon is a friend" (haiku by Yosa (Taniguchi) Buson, 1716-1783, translated by Yuki Sawa and Edith Marcombe Shiffert), performed in the Organpark on four gongs by Pepe Garcia on February 8th, 2025

Collection "org anp ARK" #86

#moon #clouds #alone

Feb 17 · 160

[ Phone call: pieces of ]

Zywa Feb 17

[ Phone call: pieces of ]

Phone call: pieces of

sentences alternately --

pasted together.

Composition "Telephone" (2014, Kate Moore), for two trumpets, composed for the 75th birthday of Louis Andriessen, performed by Tom Sanderman (saxophone) and Annette Schenk (clarinet) of the Herz Ensemble in the Organpark on February 14th, 2025

Collection "org anp ARK" #96

#communication #conversation #telephone

Feb 16 · 88

Express

Zywa Feb 16

Express

I think more
with feelings
than with thoughts of you

Your silent closeness
without contact
my desire

to be with you unfolds
in my soul and floats
around me with happiness

I want to experience everything
with you, but swimming with dolphins
and the Northern Lights in the south

are not as special to me
as sleeping together, eating, watching
and expressing what is touching us

Collection "It takes a lot of tries to make a début"

#love #intention

Feb 16 · 199

[ Loving couples kiss ]

Zywa Feb 16

[ Loving couples kiss ]

Loving couples kiss

whispering in the chambers --

of the swaying grass.

Collection "It takes a lot of tries to make a début"

#love #intimacy #privacy

Feb 15 · 115

[ Darkness of the night ]

Zywa Feb 15

[ Darkness of the night ]

Darkness of the night,

the genuine veil of love --

drawn over everything.

Poem "Ode aan de nacht" ("Ode to the night", 1977, Jotie T'Hooft)

Collection "After the festivities"

#dying #death

Feb 15 · 104

[ Ah, the willow branch ]

Zywa Feb 15

[ Ah, the willow branch ]

Ah, the willow branch

in the vase can no longer --

reach the low water.

Haiku by Shigenobu (-1832), included in the 1986 collection "Japanese Death Poems", compiled by Yoel Hoffmann: "Nageire no / mizu mo todokazu / yanagi kana" ("A willow branch / that doesn't reach the water / in the vase")

Collection "After the festivities"

#dying #death

Feb 14 · 191

[ When will I be young ]

Zywa Feb 14

[ When will I be young ]

When will I be young?

I asked after mum’s story --

of her girlhood years.

Novel "The PowerBook" (2000, Jeanette Winterson), chapter "EMPTY TRASH"

Collection "No wonder"

#curiosity #fantasy #childhood #stories

Feb 14 · 139

[ Happy: not wanting ]

Zywa Feb 14

[ Happy: not wanting ]

Happy: not wanting,

solely letting go of what --

I no longer want.

Novella "Gezien de feiten" ("Considering the facts", 2018, Griet Op de Beeck), chapter 25

Collection "No wonder"

#happiness #fulfilment #lettinggo

Feb 13 · 429

[ Farewell, I just wave ]

Zywa Feb 13

[ Farewell, I just wave ]

Farewell, I just wave

my empty hands a little --

to get rid of it.

Poem "Vertrekkende" ("Departing", 2006, Antjie Krog)

Collection "After the festivities"

#goodbye #departure #leaving #sayinggoodbye #farewell

Feb 13 · 274

[ For days I have been ]

Zywa Feb 13

[ For days I have been ]

For days I have been

living without him, but hey --

I cannot skip them.

Novella "Gezien de feiten" ("Considering the facts", 2018, Griet Op de Beeck), chapter 25

Collection "After the festivities"

#missingyou

Feb 12 · 157

Now go

Zywa Feb 12

Now go

I can see you love him
hopefully it will all work out
You don't have to take us into account

We just want you to be happy
that he will not grieve you
There's no need to rush

You're young, take time
to get to know him better
The obligations will come later

We are concerned, but we do our best
not to show it
It's hard enough for you

and we'll help you with everything
You can always come to us
you know that, right?

Now go, say goodbye to dad
He is waiting for it
before you leave

Collection "It takes a lot of tries to make a début"

#goodbye #leaving #leavinghome

Feb 12 · 109

[ I keep practising ]

Zywa Feb 12

[ I keep practising ]

I keep practising,

letter by letter I read --

your body, your soul.

Collection "It takes a lot of tries to make a début"

#attention #affinity

Feb 12 · 199

[ With eyes like a deer ]

Zywa Feb 12

[ With eyes like a deer ]

With eyes like a deer,

so wide, the girl is hiding --

in stinging nettle.

Collection "It takes a lot of tries to make a début"

#girl #****** #deer

Feb 11 · 130

[ Echoes of ripples ]

Zywa Feb 11

[ Echoes of ripples ]

Echoes of ripples

and splashes sing around the --

cave: salamanders.

Performance "Musique Hydromantique" ("Hydromantic Music" / "Web-toed Salamander Music", Tomoko Sauvage), for porcelain bowls filled with water and amplified, performed in the Organpark by Tomoko Sauvage on February 7th, 2025

Collection "org anp ARK" #79

#salamanders #cave #echoes

Feb 11 · 151

[ The world is silent ]

Zywa Feb 11

[ The world is silent ]

The world is silent,

at night people are inside --

warm or hankering.

Composition "Moon Viewing Music" (2018, Peter Garland), for three gongs, part 3 "Only the moon / high in the sky / as an empty reminder - / but if looking at it, we just remember, / our two hearts may meet" (tanka by Saigyo, 1118-1190, translated by Burton Watson), performed in the Organpark on four gongs by Pepe Garcia on February 8th, 2025

Collection "org anp ARK" #87

#longing #wishing #night

Feb 10 · 166

[ We don't say much, that's ]

Zywa Feb 10

[ We don't say much, that's ]

We don't say much, that's

how we speak with each other --

Still full of longing.

Poem "Huwelikslied 3" - 1 ("Wedding song 3" - 1, 2006, Antjie Krog)

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"

#marriage #love #passion

Feb 10 · 164

[ People do not need ]

Zywa Feb 10

[ People do not need ]

People do not need

so many words, for love they --

are not adequate.

Novella "De pianoman" ("The piano man", 2008, J. Bernlef), chapter 1

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 0s"

#love #words

Feb 9 · 93

[ Cheerful children stir ]

Zywa Feb 9

[ Cheerful children stir ]

Cheerful children stir

the cauldron, they are brewing --

bubbling happiness.

First part of the finale of "Sonata 1 pour orgue" ("***** Sonata" #1, 1974, Jean-Pierre Leguay), performed in the Organpark by Olivier Latry on February 1st, 2025

Collection "org anp ARK" #76

#children #happiness

Feb 9 · 176

[ We go out and dance ]

Zywa Feb 9

[ We go out and dance ]

We go out and dance

swinging through the metro car --

dance into the night.

Composition "Take the A Train" (1939, Billy Strayhorn, for Duke Ellington's orchestra), performed on January 25th, 2025 in the Organpark, by Theo Loevendie (piano), Oene van Geel (viola), Yoran Vroom (drums), Jeroen Vierdag (bass) and Claron MacFadden (soprano)

Collection "org anp ARK" #75

#dance #goingout #together

Feb 8 · 152

My other father

Zywa Feb 8

My other father

I get to know
my other father
by making trips

with you and wherever
we are you know something
about him to tell

and so I see
besides the memories
myself in other mirrors

Light falls on features
I know but that now
seem to cast other

shadows in this cave
of my thoughts, longing
for the warmth of the sun

For Hans B

Allegory of the cave (375 BC, Plato, dialogue "Politeia" ["Republic"], VII 514a-520a)

Collection "Old sore"

#identity #mirror

Feb 8 · 128

[ As a little child ]

Zywa Feb 8

[ As a little child ]

As a little child

I already cried and laughed:

don't leave me alone.

Essay "Laat me niet alleen" ("Don't leave me alone", 2008, Renate Dorrestein), chapter "Step Four: Let's stop for a moment and consider cross-generational relationships and their intrinsic value in Western civilization"

Collection "Old sore"

#survival #communication

Feb 7 · 309

[ He rolls over and ]

Zywa Feb 7

[ He rolls over and ]

He rolls over and

puts a strong arm around me --

Who is in his dreams?

Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" ("The Invitee", 1964, Simone de Beauvoir), part 2, chapter 8

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 40s and 50s"

#intimacy

Feb 7 · 173

[ You are tired, I can ]

Zywa Feb 7

[ You are tired, I can ]

You are tired, I can

see through you, you're beautiful --

my private spirit.

Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" ("The Invitee", 1964, Simone de Beauvoir), part 2, chapter 4

Collection "Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 40s and 50s"

#tired #attention #spirit

Feb 6 · 74

Your eyes

Zywa Feb 6

Your eyes

Your eyes look, look
at me, they count
my freckles, gauge
my mood and drown
drown in me, in me

Your eyes cuddle, crumple
my hair, they kiss my lips
nestle against me and
long, long for me
you long for me

I'm only here a while
but I did see you
I didn't scorn your love
even though I have to go
and the world keeps turning

It will pick you up again
with this song, that I give you
my song about your eyes
I've seen them
don't wait for me

Film "Torch Song" (sentimental song about an unexpressed or unrequited love for some-one), 2024, Jeroen Houben; the film contains the songs "You", "If the world doesn't wait", and "Strangers" (all by Jeroen Houben, sung by Carla Juri), and "Sposa son disprezzata" ("I am a scorned wife", 1734, Geminiano Giacomelli, sung by Charlotte Houberg)

Collection "More"

#inlove #scornedlove #unansweredlove

Feb 6 · 112

[ Calmly connected ]

Zywa Feb 6

[ Calmly connected ]

Calmly connected,

sharing experiences --

every now and then.

For Maria Godschalk

Collection "More"

#friendship #bond

Feb 5 · 205

[ Be careful with men ]

Zywa Feb 5

[ Be careful with men ]

Be careful with men,

because they want just one thing:

your full attention.

Autobiographical account "Het Perpetuum Mobile van de Liefde" ("The perpetual motion machine of love", 1988, Renate Dorrestein), chapter 1 Zet eens een kroon op uw liehiefde (Crown your lo-ove)

Collection "Old sore"

#men #dominance #attention

Feb 5 · 130

[ It is a bizarre ]

Zywa Feb 5

[ It is a bizarre ]

It is a bizarre

story, so amazingly --

recognisable!

Autobiographical account "Het Perpetuum Mobile van de Liefde" ("The perpetual motion machine of love", 1988, Renate Dorrestein), chapter 1 Zet eens een kroon op uw liehiefde (Crown your lo-ove)

Collection "Old sore"

#story #recognition #experience #life

Feb 4 · 110

[ If it is called a ]

Zywa Feb 4

[ If it is called a ]

If it is called a

challenge, a virtue is made --

of necessity.

Essay "Laat me niet alleen" ("Don't leave me alone", 2008, Renate Dorrestein), chapter "Step Three: Let's act young"

Collection "Old sore"

#virtue #challenge #emergency