Zywa

I'm growing, I know

how to do that, though I'm not --

fully myself yet.



Ik groei, ik weet hoe	,
dat moet, al ben ik nog niet --	wie das geht, obwohl ich noch --
helemaal mezelf.	nicht ganz ich selbst bin.

Poem H0225
Amsterdam, 2012-03-01
Keywords: Child: baby, Wonder / Marvel

Baby at her breast:

the mother beams divinely --

with her human child.



Baby aan haar borst:	:
de moeder straalt goddelijk --	die Mutter strahlt göttlich mit --
met haar mensenkind.	dem menschlichen Kind.

Poem H0529
Amsterdam, 2013-08-04
Keyword: Parents: mother(hood)

Shall we turn off here

for a visit to mama --

to give her a kiss?



Zullen we even
afslaan en langs mama gaan:	Mama gehen und ihr mal --
een kusje geven?	einen Kuss geben?

Poem H2179
Amsterdam, 2018-06-17
Keyword: Parents: mother(hood)

Zywa Darl-I

I undress and see nothing of me
in the clothes neatly laid out
next to each other to put back on

underwear is underwear, trousers trousers
if there is anything special about it
it is just that

there are no marks on it, I don't advertise
I unstitch myself free
pick the lint from my clothes

out of my navel, the belly is cool, I feel
myself, breast is breast, cheek cheek
but my belly, that's me

my hands know it
better than my eyes
that do recognize my face

as mine, everywhere
where I am, nowhere for sale
but it is veiled now

I am tired, I want rest
having nothing to do with anyone
and still

love myself

Poem 1880
Amsterdam, 2018-10-21
Keywords: Ego: self-love, Rest: leisure / repose

Zywa Sweet balm

Times have changed, people have not
so I read, shelf after shelf in many languages
in books preserved for centuries
so self-evidently describing
the world as it once was

In the evening I experience their adventures
at night I dream of them, every day
they colour my body in a different way

my body longing
to be touched
and to lie eye to eye
longing for the embrace
of arms and a laugh

for sounds and smells
for the cold and the fire
of love

Poem 1886
Amsterdam, 2018-10-27
Keywords: Contact: closeness, Love: intimacy (physical)

Zywa Half naked you run away

I don't stay on the side
I like to go together, get to know
people, have confidence, share
share my life, I look
for contact and butter up
anyone who can help me

It's you who I lure closer, who I lead
to chinks which I smooth
with butter honey, slowly
I pull you through
your shirt against me
to feel that you are there

You want to, but also you don't
so you get hot and take
the shirt off from the top
(I always take the bottom)
Half naked you run away
from your expectations

Poem 4570
Amsterdam, 2022-07-04
Keyword: Together: meeting
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

Zywa DearI

I awake with a start, from the heat
as if you were lying heavy on me

I don't make a sound, sleepily I turn
the duvet down. You are not here

The door is locked
it's quiet in the house

I think of Missy in the other room
see her eyes light up in the basket

pricked up at the slightest sound
I make, a sigh

turning my pillow over
the thought of a caress

Being in love may be enough
care and company, I can organise

I shouldn't want everything
and yet I must, I want to

give myself everything
as much as possible

Poem 4573
Amsterdam, 2022-07-06
Keyword: Love: for yourself
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

I'm caught in a net,

not in your, but in my net --

of expectations.



Ik zit gevangen,	,
niet in jouw, maar in mijn net --	in meinem, nicht deinem, Netz --
van verwachtingen.	von Erwartungen.

Poem S1455
Amsterdam, 2022-07-07
Keyword: Expectation

To love myself is

to care and help me to be --

a worthy person.



Van mezelf houden
is zorgzaam mezelf helpen --	ist sorgsam sein, mir helfen --
een goed mens te zijn.	tugendhaft zu sein.

Poem H3362
Amsterdam, 2022-07-07
Keyword: Love: for yourself
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

Long, long more and more,

for me, for my company --

and for my body.



Verlang, verlang meer
naar mij, naar mijn gezelschap --	nach mir, meiner Gesellschaft --
en naar mijn lichaam.	und meinem Körper.

Poem H3363
Amsterdam, 2022-07-07
Keyword: Desire (craving, lust)
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

Just close your eyes, dream

that you touch and arouse me --

Then do what you dream.



Sluit je ogen maar,	,
droom dat je mij fijn aanraakt --	träume, dass du mich erregst --
en doe wat je droomt.	und tue es dann.

Poem H3364
Amsterdam, 2022-07-07
Keyword: Contact: touch(ed)

My future is short,

so please let me find shelter --

find shelter in you.



Mijn toekomst is kort,	,
laat me alsjeblieft in jou --	also lass mich nur in dich:
beschutting vinden.	Schutz finden in dir.

Poem H3365
Amsterdam, 2022-07-07
Keywords: Safety: security / comfort, Love: care
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

Zywa Cherish, cherish me

Depilated from inside
opened and closed around
the navel, the core
of the beauty of the body
and the pearl in my scar

Cherish me, cherish me
let me feel and feel
that you are there, you are there

It is not my skin that I soften
in the bath, it is my muscles
and my soul, warm and supple
they must be to myself
to keep myself together

Cherish me, cherish me
let me feel and feel
that you are there, you are there

How much inner, how much
internal fight do I yet have
ahead, how much injury
to suffer before I can't
don't want to, will not go on?

Cherish me, cherish me
let me feel and feel
that you are there, you are there

Poem 4576
Amsterdam, 2022-07-08
Keyword: Love: for yourself
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

Zywa Sweet languor

Timeless afternoon
Postponing chores
Putting paperwork away
Going to bed with you

My heart is in my belly
exactly where I explode
with you - firework sparks
and sweet languor in every cell

My body completely
touched by the magic
spell of hormonal love
still shiny

with attention and sweat
every spot awakened and treated
dozily omnipresent
in your closeness

Poem 4720
Amsterdam, 2022-10-10
Keyword: Love: intimacy (physical)

Zywa In me, in you

Cherish me, shelter me
embrace me with your attention
     your blood wants to
     warm me skin on skin

Peace in me, your hand radiates
from afar into my belly
     I am not alone
     not a day, not a thought

Your spiritual body is with me
your heart follows mine
     in desire
     in love

Breathe with me and come
soon to hug me
     don't postpone and come
     to me, close to me

Poem 4733
Amsterdam, 2022-10-18
Keywords: Friendship: intimacy, Reiki, Awareness: connection
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk

Wow, on my birthday

I receive a lot more thought-

mail than I can read.



Op mijn verjaardag
krijg ik meer gedachtenpost --	es viel mehr Gedankenpost --
dan ik lezen kan.	als ich lesen kann.

Poem H3534
Amsterdam, 2022-10-26
Keyword: Attention: for someone
Dedicated to: Marije S

Every man a star,

that would give a lot of light --

so close together!



Elke mens een ster,	,
wat zou dat veel licht geven --	das würde viel Licht geben --
zo dicht bij elkaar!	so beieinander!

Poem H5146
Amsterdam, 2024-12-25
For Marianne H, Ali, Julian, Cem and Milas I
Keyword: Self-expression (need for attention)
Dedicated to: Marianne H

Also in photos:

people who are radiant --

Lovely! To be seen!



Tevens op foto's:	:
mensen die stralen. Heerlijk! --	Menschen, die strahlen. Herrlich! --
Gezien te worden!	Gesehen werden!

Poem H5147
Amsterdam, 2024-12-25
For Koen K, Zusanne and Scott
Keyword: Identity: be seen
Dedicated to: Koen K

Growing up, dancing

turns into moving and then --

into practising.



Opgroeien, dansen
verandert in bewegen --	wird zur Bewegung und dann --
dan in oefenen.	wird es zur Übung.

Poem H5486
Amsterdam, 2025-05-21
With a photo of Madelief with (hula) hoops in the dance school (June 14th, 2015, Willisau)

Keywords: Child: upgrow, Dance

I recognise my-

self best in a photo of --

my mirror-image.



Ik herken mijzelf
het beste op een foto --	besser wieder auf einem --
van mijn spiegelbeeld.	Spiegelbildfoto.

Poem S2675
Amsterdam, 2025-05-21
With a photo of Dory and Paul on their wedding anniversary on the beach (February 2nd, 2018, Zandvoort)

Keyword: Identity: mirror
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Dory dK, Paul J

Whatever, you know,

I'm a witch, a black one, but --

a sweet one as well!



Och ja, je weet het,
ik ben een heks, een zwarte --	bin eine schwarze Hexe --
maar wel een lieve!	und eine süße!

Poem H5495
Amsterdam, 2025-05-24
With a photo of Madelief and Florentin taken during a video call (October 31st, 2010)

Keywords: Identity: change, Womanly (witch)

All of a sudden

you arrive here, and we were --

just doing so well!



Jullie zijn zomaar
ineens hier, wij waren juist --	vor der Tür, schade, es lief --
zo lekker bezig!	gerade so schön!

Poem S2681
Amsterdam, 2025-05-24
With a photo of Lotte taken during a video call (September 11th, 2014, Grossdietwil)

Keywords: , Child: infant
Dedicated to: Lotte W

You've got me there, but

I really need to do this --

Well, you may help me!



Betrapt, ik weet het,	,
maar dit moet nu echt even --	ich muss das jetzt mal machen --
Je mag me helpen!	Du kannst mir helfen!

Poem H5500
Amsterdam, 2025-05-24
With a photo of Lotte taken during a video call (September 11th, 2014, Grossdietwil)

Keywords: Openness, Child: infant
Dedicated to: Lotte W

I am here, but I'm

not fully up yet, just have --

a look at my hair!



Ik zit hier wel, maar
ik ben nog niet op, kijk maar --	noch nicht ganz auf, schau dir nur --
eens naar mijn haren!	meine Haare an!

Poem H5509
Amsterdam, 2025-05-25
With a photo of Lotte taken during a video call (September 17th, 2017, Grossdietwil)

Keyword: Communication (precise)
Dedicated to: Lotte W

I have two friends, my

intellect during the day,

the Sandman at night.



Ik heb twee vrienden,	,
overdag mijn verstand, 's nachts --	meinen Verstand bei Tag, und --
het zandmannetje.	den Sandmann bei Nacht.

Poem H5511
Amsterdam, 2025-05-26
With a photo of Madelief (3 years old) and the Little Sandman (November 2002, Wolhusen)
Madelief also had an imaginary friend named Nukelei

Keyword: Self-confidence

Daddy pampers me,

he knows what I need: salty --

sweet and savoury!



Papa verwent mij,	,
hij weet wat ik nodig heb:	er weiß, was ich brauche: süß --
zoet, zout en hartig!	salzig und herzhaft!

Poem H5515
Amsterdam, 2025-05-26
With a photo of Madelief and Pieter with an unrolled licorice wheel (April 11th, 2004, Meggen)
There are six taste sensations: sweet, salty, savoury (umami), sour, bitter and fatty

Keyword: Parents: father(hood)

In the Mini-house

on wheels I boil water: good --

care while travelling.



In het Mini-huis
op wielen kook ik water:	Rädern koche ich Wasser:
zorgzaamheid op reis.	Pflege auf Reisen.

Poem H5529
Amsterdam, 2025-05-29
With a photo of Paul boiling water in a BMC Mini (September 6th, 1984, Jura)

Keyword: Care: body
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Paul J

Fine feathers to one's

nature aren't ready-made, thus --

they make a fine bird.



Kleren naar je aard
zijn geen confectie en zo --	Natur, nicht von der Stange,
maken ze de man.	machen Leute.

Poem H5533
Amsterdam, 2025-05-30
With a photo of Paul in painting clothes, after painting the youth centre De Trog in Beek (August 1971, Berg en Dal)

Keyword: Identity: image
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Paul J

It's with petting soft

boxing gloves and a sweet smile --

that I bare my teeth.



Met aaizachte boks-
handschoenen en een lach laat --	Boxhandschuhen zeige ich --
ik mijn tanden zien.	süß meine Zähne.

Poem H5552
Amsterdam, 2025-05-31
With a photo of a woman's boxing class next to a wall shadow of shark teeth (May 4th, 2013, Geuzenkade near the Jan van Galenstraat, Amsterdam) - In the Netherlands and Switzerland, shark teeth are triangles painted on the road surface as a warning that one must give way

Keywords: Womanly (witch), Manly (aggression)
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK

We're happy to see

each other, my grandparents --

do want to know me.



We zijn blij elkaar
te zien, opa en oma --	sehen, Opa und Oma --
willen mij kennen.	wollen mich kennen.

Poem H5592
Amsterdam, 2025-06-07
With a photo of Dory and Paul at the IJmuiderslag (September 4th, 2014, IJmuiden)

Keyword: Family: grandma / grandpa
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Dory dK, Paul J

Take good care of trees,

they are an example of --

self-development.



Zorg goed voor bomen,
ze zijn voor ons een voorbeeld --	Bäume, sie sind ein Beispiel --
van zelfontplooiing.	für Selbstentfaltung.

Poem H5607
Amsterdam, 2025-06-16
With a photo of Madelief dK, Pieter W, and Dory dK (three generations) under a tree on top of the hill (February 21st, 2003, Wolhusen)

Keywords: Nature: trees, forest, Self-expression (growth)

When I see my love

I feel as beautiful as --

I am in his eyes.



Wanneer ik hem zie,	,
dan voel ik me net zo mooi --	fühle ich mich genauso --
als dat hij mij ziet.	schön, wer er mich sieht.

Poem H5651
Amsterdam, 2025-06-29
With a photo of Dory at home (Baron van Voorst tot Voorststraat, September 16th, 1984, Beek [Berg en Dal])

Keywords: Attention: for someone, Beauty: essence
Dedicated to: Lotte W

Daddy carries me,

points to the world, takes my hand --

when I want his help.



Papa draagt me, wijst
de wereld in, neemt mijn hand --	in die Welt, nimmt meine Hand --
als ik zijn hulp wil.	wenn ich ihn brauche.

Poem H5823
Amsterdam, 2025-08-14
With a photo of a sculpture in Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, of a man with a baby in his arms (June 22nd, 1997)

Keywords: Parents: father(hood), Norway
Dedicated to: Lotte W

So, if there are gods,

please let one of them come now --

and impregnate me.



Als er goden zijn,	,
mag een van hen nu komen --	möge einer jetzt kommen --
en mij bevruchten.	und mich schwängern.

Poem H6012
Amsterdam, 2025-11-14
Keywords: Desire (wish-dream), Womanly (body)

Zywa Bosom friend

Until I fall in love
with just the one
I regularly entrust
myself to a friend
as beautiful as Apollo

and Ogma is he
Lakshmi and Isis am I
and the complete fulfilment
of ourselves are we then

How often, how little
do people allow themselves that
feeling of wholeness
in the womb of Mother Earth?

In passing, the neighbour
appraises me as a bedmate
others are trapped by the rules
of decency and priorities
of their fathers and forefathers

Poem 5713
Amsterdam, 2025-11-16
Ogma is the Celtic god of language, writing and poetry
Keyword: Body: pleasure

Zywa Counseling

We shake hands, finally
I am off the waiting list
and out of my own waiting room -
with someone who, just like mama
listens to me

to help me to know what helps me
what may work for me, someone who
will shout Action! and Stop!
from time to time, so that I get out
of the path in the vicious cycle

which I know better than I
would like, and even though
I have to get my body
with its afflictions moving
with too little energy

I still want to trust that
I can do it, can and will
have to do it myself, and
that I will find a place
where I'm not on the side

Poem 5847
Amsterdam, 2026-02-02
The Misunderstanding 'Psychotherapy' (Flip Jan van Oenen)
Enduring (Flip Jan van Oenen) - 2019
Books from 2019 and 2025
Keywords: Hope (passive), Equivalence
Tribute to: Van Oenen, Flip Jan
Dedicated to: Marije S

Zywa Waiting room (Protect us)

It has been tried:
gods, a god
above man

and never could one trust
the divine when one prayed
and made a wish:

a wish for health
a wish for justice
a wish for peace

And then: the leap
into the unknown
soul

and it brought no solace
The divine soul, too
was a waiting room

without doors to peace
happiness, and the fulfillment
of our wishes:

love us
protect us
from each other

Poem 5850
Amsterdam, 2026-02-03
Keywords: Religion: allmightiness, Peace: wish

Collection DearI			5-7-5
Pencil	Pumice	Rain	Loves
Compressed	Birds	Ifless	Photo
Tributes	Dedications	Composers	Home