After the fireworks

I don't see any ghosts left --


only dirty snow.


Na al het vuurwerkNach das Feuerwerk
zie ik nergens nog geesten --sehe ich nirgends Geister --

alleen vieze sneeuw.nur schmutzigen Schnee.

Poem H0040
Amsterdam, 2011-11-29

Keyword: New Year 
 
 

There are wolf droppings

among the scattered remains --


of about five sheep.


Er liggen wolven-Hier, Wolfskotspuren,
keutels tussen de resten --zwischen den Überresten --

van een paar schapen.einiger Schafe.

Poem H0206
Amsterdam, 2012-02-12

Keywords: Animals: wolf, Animals: sheep / lamb 
 
 

A children's party,

sailing over the river --


The smell of pancakes.


Een kinderfeestje,Segelnd auf dem Fluss:
varend over de rivier --ein fröhliches Kinderfest --

Pannenkoekengeur.ein Pfannkuchenduft.

Poem H0256
Amsterdam, 2012-04-06

Keyword: Party: celebrate 
 
 

The boys and the girls

are smelling each other's scents:


clouds of Clearasil.


Jongens en meisjesJungen und Mädchen
ruiken aan elkaars luchtjes:riechen einander: Wolken --

wolken Clearasil.von Clearasil-Creme.

Poem H0264
Amsterdam, 2012-04-19

Keyword: Teenager (youth) 
 
 

The water cannon

jets loudly rolling waves of --


waste ahead of it.


Het waterkanonDer Wasserwerfer
spuit voortrollende golven --sprüht rollende Wellen von --

afval voor zich uit.Abfall vor sich her.

Poem H0275
Amsterdam, 2012-05-01

Keyword: Health: hygiene 
 
 

The frogs are croaking,

safe under a cloud of blood-


thirsty mosquitoes.


De kikkers kwakenDie Frösche quaken
veilig onder een wolk bloed-unter einer Wolke blut-

dorstige muggen.rünstiger Mücken.

Poem H0350
Amsterdam, 2012-09-12

The forest behind the cemetery of La Ferté Saint Cyr (on May 31st, 2012)
Keywords: Animals: frog / toad, France 
 
 

The wind lashes rain

on the windowpane, so nice --


that I am inside.


De wind vlaagt regen-Der Wind peitscht Regen-
striemen op de ruit, heerlijk --streifen an das Fensterglas --

dat ik binnen zit.Schön, drinnen zu sein.

Poem H0389
Amsterdam, 2012-11-23

Keyword: Home: residence / work 
 
 

Fairytale noises

in the woods make fairytales --


quite real, I'm afraid.


SprookjesgeluidenMärchengeräusche
in het bos maken sprookjes --im Wald machen Märchen wahr --

echt waar, ben ik bang.fürchte ich wirklich.

Poem H0610
Amsterdam, 2013-10-06

Keyword: Fear: insecurity 
 
 

The flag has long frays,

like her hair when she left me --


Her hair in the wind.


Lange vlagrafels,Die ausgefranste
zoals haar haren bij haarFahne, wie ihre Haare --

vertrek in de wind.im Wind, als sie ging.

Poem H1014
Amsterdam, 2014-07-15

Keyword: Missing: love 
 
 

The anger sizzles,

it is choked in the coolness --


of lucid reason.


De woede sist na,Die Wut zischt, erstickt
ze verstikt in de koelte --in der Kühle des klaren --

van helder verstand.ruhigen Geistes.

Poem H2335
Amsterdam, 2018-12-13

Lucretia Mccloud (Georgia) is active on PoemHunter.com
Keyword: Reason: and feelings 
Dedicated to: Mccloud, Lucretia 
 
 

The way you smell now

I have never thought of you --


Do I know myself?


Zoals jij nu ruikt,Wie du jetzt duftest,
dacht ik nog nooit over jou --hab ich nie an dich gedacht --

Ken ik mijzelf wel?Kenne ich mich selbst?

Poem H2585
Schiphol, 2019-10-15

Keyword: Identity: physical 
 
 

Being civilized,

that is, friendly and polite --


no little white lies.


Ik wil beschaafd zijn,Zivilisiert sein,
dus vriendelijk en beleefd --das heißt, freundlich und höflich --

zonder te liegen.ohne Notlügen.

Poem H2763
Amsterdam, 2020-08-13

Keyword: Ethics: lie 
 
 

It is uncertain

where you are, you just wander --


until this is clear.


Het is ongewisEs ist unbestimmt
waar je bent, je dwaalt maar rond --wo man ist, jeder wandert --

tot je dat beseft.bis ihm das klar ist.

Poem H2865
Amsterdam, 2020-12-21

Keyword: Stray 
 
 

I am a tourist

where you still live, where I used --


to be family.


Ik ben een toeristIch bin ein Tourist,
waar jij woont, waar ik vroeger --wo du lebst, wo ich früher --

nog familie was.noch Familie war.

Poem H3383
Amsterdam, 2022-07-14

Back in the place where you grew up
Keywords: Memory: of places, Tourism 
 
 

He's a Pole, wishing

for a Frenchwoman: Europe --


true equality!


Als Pool wil hij graagEr ist Pole, er
een Française: Europa --wünscht sich eine Französin:

gelijkwaardigheid!Europa, Gleichheit!

Poem H3659
Amsterdam, 2023-01-11

Three Colours: White - Equality (Krzysztof Kieslowski) - 1993
Communist equality and true equality
Film "Trzy kolory: Bialy" - Równo?? (Karol and Dominique)

Keywords: Equality: self-respect, Poland 
Tribute to: Kieslowski, Krzysztof 
 
 

The values of lives

are subjective, are values --


in your fantasy.


Wat levens waard zijn,Was Leben wert sind,
is subjectief, zijn waarden --ist subjektiv, sind Werte --

in je fantasie.deiner Fantasie.

Poem H3787
Amsterdam, 2023-04-07

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Haruki Murakami) - 2006
Collection of short stories (2006, Haruki Murakami
Animated film (2022, Pierre Földes)

Keywords: Identity: image, Identity: self-image 
Tribute to: Murakami, Haruki; Foldes, Pierre 
 
 

Over the water

my name sounds strange, sounds loaded --


with something unknown.


Over het waterÜber den Wasser
klinkt mijn naam vreemd, geladen --klingt mein Name geladen --

met iets onbekends.mit etwas Fremdem.

Poem H4345
Amsterdam, 2023-12-06

Keyword: Identity: image 
 
 

Every now and then

a fragment, I sense what's left --


of the past, in me.


Af en toe een flard,Manchmal ein Fragment,
ik tast af wat over is --ich taste was von früher --

van vroeger, in mij.übrig ist, in mir.

Poem H4382
Amsterdam, 2023-12-20

Keywords: Memory: of one's life, Identity: change 
 
 

Knowing each other

from before, and not knowing --


but knowing life now.


Elkaar van vroegerSich von früher schon
kennen, en niet meer kennen --kennen, und nicht mehr kennen --

Het leven kennen.Das Leben kennen.

Poem H4383
Amsterdam, 2023-12-20

Keyword: Life: experience 
 
 

I can't find the words,

that's why I just embrace her --


With a big, big smile.


Ik vind geen woorden,Ich finde keine
daarom omhels ik haar maar --Worte und umarme sie --

Met een brede lach.Mit breitem Lächeln.

Poem H4820
Amsterdam, 2024-08-01

Keyword: Communication (body language) 
 
 

There is little news,

we have a toast and repeat --


our favourite tales.


Er is weinig nieuws,Nichts Neues, zum Wohl!
we proosten en herhalen --Lustig wiederholen wir --

onze verhalen.Lieblingsgeschichten.

Poem H4897
Amsterdam, 2024-09-05

Keyword: Stories: tradition / order 
 
 

The wind around the

house is restless, I lie still --


but I am restless.


De wind om het huisDer Wind ums Haus ist
is onrustig, ik lig stil --unruhig, ich liege still --

maar ben onrustig.obwohl unruhig.

Poem H4943
De Koog, 2024-09-26

Keywords: Wind, Safety: home 
 
 

He's dressed in a cave

that has a low opening --


His heels in the sand.


De man is gekleedEr ist gekleidet
in een laag gelegen hol --in einer Niederhöhle --

Hakken in het zand.Die Fersen im Sand.

Poem H5074
Amsterdam, 2024-11-16

Head of Leon Kosshoff (Frank Auerbach) - 1953
Painting
Head of Leon Kosshoff

Keyword: Resistance 
Tribute to: Auerbach, Frank 
 
 

I'm a little light-

headed, that's not good, although --


floating is lovely.


Al is het niet goedMir ist schwindelig,
dat ik licht in het hoofd ben --was nicht gut ist, obwohl das --

het zweven is fijn.Schweben herrlich ist.

Poem H5213
Amsterdam, 2025-02-03

Keyword: Body: and mind 
 
 

I'm busy, I shut

out all unrest from outside --


keep outside outside.


Ik ben druk bezig,Ich bin beschäftigt
dus sluit ik alle onrust --und schließe die Unruhe --

van buiten buiten.von außen nun aus.

Poem H5218
Amsterdam, 2025-02-06

Keyword: Attention: focus 
 
 

A slot in the floor

for the very large painting:


entrance and exit.


Een gleuf in de vloerEine Rinne im
voor het grote schilderij:Boden für das Gemälde:

de in- en uitgang.der Ein- und Ausgang.

Poem H5397
Amsterdam, 2025-04-23

In the vault at the southern gate of the passage under the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam there is an elongated hatch, which closes the slot for transferring Rembrandt's Night Watch
Keywords: Technics (help), Amsterdam, Museum 
 
 

Everything goes well

the way it's going, there is --


no final judgement.


Het gaat goed, allesEs läuft gut so wie
loopt zoals het loopt, een eind-es läuft, ein endgültiges --

oordeel is er niet.Urteil gibt es nicht.

Poem H5445
Amsterdam, 2025-05-07

Keyword: Life: course (chance) 
 
 

Helping someone move

is a great adventure with --


a safe homecoming.


Helpen verhuizenHilfe beim Umzug
is een avontuur met een --ist ein Abenteuer mit --

behouden thuiskomst.sicherer Heimkunft.

Poem H5457
Amsterdam, 2025-05-11

With a photo of Dory in a rented van (August 31st, 1986, Valkenburg)

Dory

Keyword: Home: move 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Dory dK 
 
 

No shining armour

for me, on my way to the --


fairytale castle.


Zonder een wit paardIn einer kalten
waad ik me zelf een weg naar --Realität wate ich --

het sprookjeskasteel.hin zum Märchenschloss.

Poem H5523
Amsterdam, 2025-05-28

With a photo of Paul wading through the Elz near Burg Eltz (July 2nd, 1978, Wierschem) - Not Prince Charming

Paul

Keyword: Willpower 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Paul J 
 
 

You have to look back

now and then to catch a glimpse --


of where you're going.


Bij het omkijkenWenn man zurückblickt,
vang je een glimp op waarheen --erhascht man einen Schimmer --

je onderweg bent.davon, wo's hingeht.

Poem H5531
Amsterdam, 2025-05-29

With a photo of Paul in a rowboat (1980, Ahaus)

Paul

Keyword: Future: direction 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK, Paul J 
 
 

When you go boating,

you are part of the city-


scape that others see.


SpelevarendenBeim Bootfahren ist
horen bij het stadsgezicht --man Teil der Stadtansicht, die --

dat anderen zien.andere sehen.

Poem H5537
Amsterdam, 2025-05-30

With a photo of pedal boats in a canal (July 13th, 2014, Amsterdam), Keizersgracht seen from the bridge at Huidenstraat

Pedal boats

Keywords: City (meeting), AmsterdamF 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 
 

I can't fly, but I

dare to fall, for a moment --


I've got perspective.


Vliegen kan ik niet,Ich fliege nicht, ich
vallen durf ik wel, even --falle, für einen Moment --

alles overzien.einen Überblick.

Poem H5544
Amsterdam, 2025-05-31

With a photo of Madelief's tandem jump (July 23rd, 2017, parachuting on Texel)

Tandem jump

Madelief

Keyword: Perception: distortion 
Dedicated to: Madelief dK 
 
 

Outdoors in the green,

outside the people's hustle --


a hut and a fire.


Buiten in het groen,Draußen im Grünen,
buiten de mensendrukte --außerhalb des Volkstrubels --

een hut en een vuur.Hütte und Feuer.

Poem H5547
Amsterdam, 2025-05-31

With a photo of the grill next to the forest hut near her home (July 8th, 2007, Willisau)

Grill

Keywords: Life: environment, Nature: trees, forest 
Dedicated to: Madelief dK 
 
 

We do fitness on

the canal: we pedal hard --


to see the quaysides.


Fitness op de gracht:Fitness am Kanal:
we moeten hard trappen om --wir müssen schwer treten um --

de kades te zien.die Kais zu sehen.

Poem H5554
Amsterdam, 2025-05-31

With a photo of a pedal boat under a bridge (September 18th, 2003, Keizersgracht, Amsterdam)

Pedal boat

Keywords: City (stone & steel), AmsterdamF, Tourism 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 
 

Around the empty

dais the park is the stage --


for dog and cyclist.


Lege toneelvloer,Die Bühne ist leer,
het park is het podium --der Park ist das Podium --

voor hond en fietser.für Hund und Radler.

Poem H5555
Amsterdam, 2025-06-01

With a photo of the open-air theatre in Vondelpark (October 31st, 2006, Amsterdam), the walkers are the public

Vondelpark

Keywords: Attention: surroundings, AmsterdamF, Animals: dog 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 
 

There are quays for, for

passers-by: the spectators --


and the cargo boats.


Er zijn kades voorEs gibt Kais für die
de passanten: de kijkers --Passanten: die Zuschauer --

en de vrachtschepen.und die Frachtschiffe.

Poem H5566
Amsterdam, 2025-06-01

With a photo of the quay of the Singelgracht, at the Kinkerbridge (August 5th, 2010, Amsterdam)

Quay

Keywords: Order: society, AmsterdamF 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 
 

Under the bridges,

it is dark, I need to see --


who's looking at me.


Onder de bruggenUnter den Brücken
is het donker, ik wil zien --ist es dunkel, ich möchte --

wie er naar mij kijkt.sehen, wer mich sieht.

Poem H5569
Amsterdam, 2025-06-01

With a photo of a rower on the Jacob van Lennep Canal (July 26th, 2013, Amsterdam)

Rower

Keywords: Bridge, AmsterdamF, Danger: notice 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 
 

Please, keep the city

liveable with humour, mark --


time for a moment.


Houd de stad leefbaarBitte, halte die
met humor en maak even --Stadt bewohnbar und trete --

een pas op de plaats.mal auf der Stelle.

Poem H5604
Amsterdam, 2025-06-14

With a photo of a sign for traffic diversion, with the inscription 'End of the cut-through, Go back!' (June 14th, 2025, Kanaalstraat, Amsterdam)

Traffic sign

Keywords: City (junction), AmsterdamF 
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 
 

Goats, sheltering in

the tunnel, they have a right --


to holdto stables, don't they?


De geiten schuilenZiegen suchen Schutz
in de tunnel, ze hebben --im Tunnel, sie haben doch --

toch recht op een stal?Anspruch auf Ställe?

Poem H5650
Amsterdam, 2025-06-29

With a photo of goats in a tunnel (August 3rd, 1985, Norway)

Goats

Keywords: Animals: goat, Safety: protection 
Dedicated to: Lotte W 
 
 

Competition is

creative: no more wheels, but --


coaches on sledges.


Concurrentie isWettbewerb ist schlau:
creatief: geen wielen, maar --keine Räder mehr, sondern --

koetsen op sledes.Kutschen auf Schlitten.

Poem H5815
Amsterdam, 2025-08-12

To reduce traffic congestion on the quays, Amsterdam levied a tax on vehicle wheels from 1737 onwards
Keywords: Creativity, Amsterdam, Egoism 
 
 

Being in touch with

unreachable far away:


through the post office.


Toch contact hebbenIn Kontakt stehen
met onbereikbaar ver weg:mit der unerreichbaren --

door het postkantoor.Weiten: durch die Post.

Poem H5918
Amsterdam, 2025-09-01

Woman in the doorway of the East Machias Post Office (Berenice Abbott) - 1954
Photo (Maine, U.S. Route 1)
Keyword: Communication (sending) 
Tribute to: Abbott, Berenice 
 
 

Running is nearly

falling, our shadows stretched out --


pulling at our feet.


Rennen is bijnaWir rennen, fallen
vallen, onze schaduw trekt --fast, unser Schatten zerrt an --

aan onze voeten.unseren Füßen.

Poem H5939
Amsterdam, 2025-09-11

With a photo of Michi and Lotte W on the beach of Ruigenhoek ('Rugged Corner', February 8th, 2018, Noordwijk)

Michi and Lotte

Keywords: Life: lust (enthusiasm), Beach 
Dedicated to: Lotte W 
 
 

On the boat, sailing

to familiar horizons --


End of vacation.


Op de boot, terugAuf dem Boot, zurück
naar vertrouwde horizons --zum vertrauten Horizont --

Einde vakantie.Ende des Urlaubs.

Poem H6230
Amsterdam, 2026-05-03

Keyword: Holiday / Vacation 
 
 

In slow fits and starts,

the large beach beast rolls along --


with the gusts of sand.


Hortend en stotendStoßweise rollt das
rolt het grote stranddier mee --riesige Strandtier mit den --

met de vlagen zand.Sandböen dahin.

Poem H6238
Amsterdam, 2026-05-10

Beach Beasts (Theo Jansen)
Beach Beasts made out of PVC pipes
Keywords: Technics (rigid), Wind, Beach 
Tribute to: Jansen, Theo 
 
 

The boat is a place

to be together and talk --


It doesn't have to sail.


De boot is een plekDas Boot ist ein Ort,
om met elkaar te praten --an dem wir zusammen sind --

Varen hoeft hij niet.Es muss nicht segeln.

Poem H6350
Amsterdam, 2026-07-09

Keywords: Together: meeting, Amsterdam 
 
 

People and clouds race

each other, they have no time --


for a rain shower.


Mensen en wolkenMenschen und Wolken
snellen om het hardst voorbij:eilen vorbei: keine Zeit --

geen tijd voor regen.für einen Schauer.

Poem S0053
Amsterdam, 2012-03-03

Keyword: Together: crowd / busy 
 
 

The birds fly with me

in the same direction, if --


I look short enough.


De vogels vliegenDie Vögel fliegen
dezelfde kant op als ik --mit mir in gleicher Richtung --

maar kort genoeg kijk.wenn ich kurz hin schau.

Poem S0067
Amsterdam, 2012-07-15

Keywords: Perception: observation, Flying: bird, bird of prey 
 
 

As if everything

revolves around me I see --


people flashing by.


Alsof om mij heenAlles dreht sich um
alles draait, zie ik mensen --mich, ich sehe die Leute --

flitsend passeren.flitzend passieren.

Poem S0068
Amsterdam, 2012-07-17

Keyword: Order: society 
 
 

Having read your books,

I really know you, for me --


you're nothing but words.


Uit al jouw boekenAus deinen Büchern
ken ik je, voor mij ben jij --kenne ich dich, du bist nur --

enkel nog woorden.noch Worte für mich.

Poem S0860
Amsterdam, 2019-04-04

Keyword: Identity: deeds 
 
 

Watching videos

I see shadows of people --


Is it Plato's cave?


Kijkend naar filmpjesIch schau Videos
zie ik schimmen van mensen --mit Schatten von Menschen an --

Is dat Plato's grot?Das Höhlengleichnis?

Poem S0922
Amsterdam, 2019-07-31

YouTube
Keyword: Together: connected 
 
 

Feeling fine or queer,

after drinking wine and beer --


people are equal.


Plezier en venijn:Fein oder gemein,
na het bier en de wijn zijn --je nach dem Bier und dem Wein --

arm en rijk gelijk.sind die Menschen gleich.

Poem S0936
Amsterdam, 2019-09-28

Poor people drink beer, rich people drink wine
(Beer before wine and you'll be fine - wine before beer and you'll feel queer)

Keyword: Equivalence 
 
 

Capitalism is

the art of tempting people --


to contract more debts.


Kapitalisme:Kapitalismus
de kunst jou te verleiden --ist die Kunst des Anreizes --

schulden aan te gaan.Schulden zu machen.

Poem S1034
Amsterdam, 2020-06-16

Keywords: Capitalism, Power: wielding 
 
 

Here, the urban crowd

and there, an extensive field --


I'm feeling lonely.


Hier de stadsdrukteHier der Stadtbetrieb
en daar een uitgestrekt veld --und dort ein riesiger Feld --

Ik voel me eenzaam.Ich fühl mich einsam.

Poem S1272
Egmond aan Zee, 2021-10-25

Keyword: Alone: lonely 
 
 

Older: I know more,

and I know I like it less --


than fantasising.


Ouder: ik weet meer,Älter: ich weiß mehr,
en het bevalt me minder --und ich mag es weniger --

dan fantaseren.als Fantasien.

Poem S1360
Amsterdam, 2022-03-19

Keyword: Wisdom 
 
 

People in the train,

sleeping, so much travel time --


makes the day too long.


Slapende mensenSchlafende Menschen
in de trein, zoveel reistijd --im Zug, so viel Reisezeit --

maakt de dag te lang.macht den Tag zu lang.

Poem S1726
Amsterdam, 2023-04-07

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Haruki Murakami) - 2006
Collection of short stories (2006, Haruki Murakami
Animated film (2022, Pierre Földes)

Keywords: Body: and mind, Sleep 
Tribute to: Murakami, Haruki; Foldes, Pierre 
 
 

Let me think, am I

lived, like an empty inside --


heartless and soulless?


Word ik soms geleefd,Werde ich gelebt,
als een lege binnenkant --wie ein leeres Inneres --

harteloos, zielloos?herzlos, seelenlos?

Poem S1727
Amsterdam, 2023-04-07

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Haruki Murakami) - 2006
Collection of short stories (2006, Haruki Murakami
Animated film (2022, Pierre Földes)

Keywords: Passion, Soul 
Tribute to: Murakami, Haruki; Foldes, Pierre 
 
 

An identity

is just a collection of --


misunderstandings.


Een identiteitDie Identität
is maar een verzameling --ist nur eine Sammlung von --

van misverstanden.Missverständnissen.

Poem S1735
Amsterdam, 2023-04-13

Exhibition "100 Missverständnisse über und unter Juden" ("100 Misunderstandings about and among Jews" in the Jewish Museum Vienna)
Keyword: Identity: image 
 
 

The searching people:

while dreaming, they easily --


can lose their wisdom.


Zoekende mensen:Suchende Menschen:
al dromend verliezen ze --beim Träumen verlieren sie --

al gauw hun wijsheid.leicht ihre Weisheit.

Poem S1943
Amsterdam, 2023-10-04

Keywords: Reason: ignore, Doubt 
 
 

Lost music, lost notes,

or just lost thoughts, waifs and strays --


Elusive moments.


Verdwaalde noten,Verirrte Noten,
of verdwaalde gedachten --oder verirrtes Denken --

Ongrijpbare tijd.Ungreifbare Zeit.

Poem S2046
Amsterdam, 2023-12-11

Keywords: Awareness: volatile / fragments, Time: passing 
 
 

Car with a driver

waiting for me, it is just --


too big to be parked.


Auto met chauffeurAuto mit Fahrer,
die op me wacht, tja, te groot --der auf mich wartet, einfach --

om te parkeren.zu groß zum Parken.

Poem S2097
Amsterdam, 2024-01-14

Keyword: Power: wealth 
 
 

The bedbugs are dead.

So we are not in danger --


Still I am itchy.


Dode bedwantsen.Tote Bettwanzen.
We lopen dus geen gevaar --Es besteht keine Gefahr --

Toch gaat het jeuken.Trotzdem juckt es mich.

Poem S2360
De Koog, 2024-09-18

Because of armadillidiidae (pill-bugs) on the second floor of the holiday apartment building
Keywords: Fantasy: imagination, Animals: insect 
 
 

Flashing items shoot

past on the screen, one snapshot --


after another.


Berichten schietenNachrichten schießen
flitsend voorbij op het scherm --flitzend auf dem Schirm vorbei --

snapshot na snapshot.Schnappschuss nach Schnappschuss.

Poem S2458
Amsterdam, 2024-11-24

Keyword: News 
 
 

The four-lane main street

in the centre, there and back:


within one minute.


De brede hoofdstraatBreite Hauptstraße
in het centrum, heen en terug:im Zentrum, hin und zurück:

binnen één minuut.eine Minute.

Poem S2646
Amsterdam, 2025-04-23

From 1953 to 1997, Museumstraat in Amsterdam was a four-lane road of less than half a kilometre between the Concertgebouw and the Rijksmuseum, called 'the shortest highway in the Netherlands'
Keywords: City (junction), Amsterdam 
 
 

Just sticks and paper,

also rubber strips with foil:


a UFO crashes.


Stokjes en papier,Stöcke und Papier,
rubberen strips met folie:Gummistreifen mit Folie:

een ufo stort neer.ein UFO stürzt ab.

Poem S2670
Amsterdam, 2025-05-18

Roswell incident in 1947 (military spy balloon)
Keyword: Fantasy: associations 
 
 

There: triangular

lights in the sky, UFOs, but --


not round, no saucers!


Daar: driehoekslichtenDort: dreieckige
aan de hemel, ufo's, maar --Lichter am Himmel, UFOs --

niet rond, geen schotels!ohne runde Form!

Poem S2671
Amsterdam, 2025-05-18

Belgian UFO wave in 1990 (AWACS)
Keyword: Fantasy: associations 
 
 

Zywa The slow time

In bed, in the dark
below the dyke I hear
the hum of the river

vessels curve heavily
loaded in the bend
of the slow time

where we never venture, knowing
what happened to that boy
whom nobody knows anymore

where we swim in summer
a few strokes to
and fro in the bay

build lookouts
and are bored
with the creep of

the little waves
the long barges
the slow time

peering
at new cars or other
cargo on deck

Poem 826
Amsterdam, 2016-11-09

Keywords: Time: passing, Summer 
 
 

Zywa The sails

My darling is gone
the earth pushes tidal
tears up through the sand

sails in the east
round me, signs
upon them, I walk

for miles
to spartina and seepweed
and fro to the beacon

build a stone tower there
break stone for stone
read word for word, listen

and build writing and
singing sentence for sentence
our love again

Poem 848
Amsterdam, 2016-10-28

Ameland
Keywords: Missing: absence, Friesland 
 
 

Zywa Such a house am I

Between the trees
six colourful panels
Six colourful panels
between green trees
And four pillars on the outside

Panels as doors
to another world
In their flat plane
magical screens that
you can step into

Holes in a clearing
between the trees
Look-ins entrances
for anyone who approaches
and can enter

the colour rooms, the invisible
country house in the clearing
where mirror trees live
outside mirrored inside and inside
mirrored outside, such a house

am I

Poem 880
Amsterdam, 2016-12-09

The cabin, burst open to 4 rooms (Daniel Buren) - 2005
Artwork "La cabane éclatée aux 4 salles" in the park of Villa Celle, near Pistoia
Keyword: Identity: mirror 
Tribute to: Buren, Daniel 
 
 

Zywa Appearances

Because I don't have time
I just like to waste the day
unwashed in a bathrobe

Being myself, at home
in my city bunker -
in front of the window
that mirrors on the outside

If you fly past it
you will see sparrows
being chased off the seed
by ducks who then flee

from the gull army
which has hardened its beaks
four times in the gastric acid
of the Duck family

I am safely offside
and what I don't like
I erase from the screen

Poem 969
Amsterdam, 2017-01-22

Hard swords were made from iron filings, which had been mixed into the feed of ostriches, ducks, or chickens to harden in their stomach acid, and were subsequently recovered from the manure
Keywords: Life: effort, burden, Distance / Detachment 
 
 

Zywa Foghorn

How wonderful it is
to be foam
all of us together, big wads

of hungry human foam, a fog
of life, and I a flake
in colours of my own, I

need to lament for a moment
in my most pathetic voice
and blow that I exist, I

already dissolve, way too soon
not like when
I was just born and grew

of my own waste
no, it is shrinking
I'm eating myself

The doctors have explained it
They hope to learn from me
and to know more later

Poem 991
Amsterdam, 2017-02-05

Keyword: Old age: ailments / defects 
 
 

Zywa Without filters: Blind

My eye-filters organise
fragments into the world
of which I am aware
My habitat

Without filters, I would
go blind from everything
go crazy from everything
Not survive

I organise you too
and if I had no filters
and more receptors
you would occupy me even more

That would paralyse me
it would blind me
and devour me, for
love knows no bounds

Poem 1375
Amsterdam, 2017-05-24

The golden mean
Keywords: Balance (middle, yin-yang), Brain: functioning 
Tribute to: Aristoteles 
 
 

Zywa Coat in the sun

In good weather, sunny playing
Together in my long winter coat
Because I'm too cold

To pass on the heat
And on rainy days, silent
Arms around the discomfort

Of my depression
Wishing to live without a coat
But the sun is so far

To catch enough heat
Outside the arms of my darling
And one and a half friend

Poem 1486
Amsterdam, 2017-08-04

Keyword: Together: community 
 
 

Zywa Panic

At night my head is free
of consciousness: no rules
but a fair

of memories in which I only
know the way
without thinking

and screeching frustrations
which from the roller coaster
of my dreams sweep back

into their old tracks and
cry out drop by drop in the sweat
of my delirious desperation

with a grimace on my face
and a word I don't understand
Everyone flees

But you can't help that, says the doctor
Before you went to sleep
your house was already on fire

Poem 1591
Amsterdam, 2017-10-29

Keywords: Fear: bad dream, Panic 
 
 

Zywa Reasons enough

Children must learn to lie
and hopefully not do it

Lies make you unhappy
suspicious and untouchable
shrouded in caution
and accomplices

when it grows also
in officers of the law
mediators and fortune tellers
with tailor-made standards

who talk everything all-right
not stupid and not wise
enough to be sincere
and not brave enough

to give up the stress
and the ease of joining -
for one and the other, there are
unfortunately reasons enough

Poem 1756
Amsterdam, 2018-05-08

Keyword: Ethics: lie 
 
 

Zywa The wonderful feeling

The fog must have cleared
so slowly, that when
I saw the landscape
when I realised it

was there, I already must
have seen it unconsciously
just like when

I was bored, watching
the passing people
and thinking they also saw me
in passing, a girl

with dangling legs
just a girl
they do not know

and that I was her
This was suddenly clear
an awareness, loomed up
out of the mist of being a child

I too saw myself
sitting there in the wonderful
feeling that I was myself

Poem 2070
Amsterdam, 2019-02-17

Keyword: Identity: being seen 
 
 

Zywa It's just paint

When I paint my face
I don't become a clown or a Hindu god
but I get frightened of myself

I run outside
people move away, they let me
feel that I'm dangerous

it vibrates in my blood
to the rhythm of the hammers
of the demolition workers behind the fence

In the middle of the city, I am alone
with clenched fists and fire-
breathing curses

no one takes me as I
am, only policemen stop
and address me, Yes, right, I'm okay

it's just paint, I'm almost home
but maybe you happen to know
who I might vote for?

Poem 2419
Amsterdam, 2019-09-21

Keyword: Identity: being different 
 
 

Zywa Hayheat

Anyone who dislikes to be mature
and all of us feel this

resistance in the world
of discord and envy
in which we have built high

towers for judges and lawyers
who want to win for you

magnify your disadvantages
if you know what I mean
magnify your disadvantages

and with satisfaction demand new rules
to stab in the haystack on all sides

till everything gets stuck
and citizens are suffocating here and there
after which the next step in the treadmill

Anyone who dislikes to be mature

joins the demands, because one cannot talk
with someone who is different
Envy clogs the ears

Poem 1245
Amsterdam, 2017-03-25

Keywords: Ethics: laws, Disfavour / Jealousy / Envy 
 
 

Puzzling my head off,

there's something I cannot find --


what is it again?


Ik pieker me suf,Ich zerbreche mich
ik kan iets echt niet vinden --den Kopf, um es zu finden --

wat is het ook weer?Was ist es nochmal?

Poem S0838
Amsterdam, 2019-01-26

Keyword: Attention: focus 
 
 

Hay fever tickles

inside my nose: Ahchooray!


It is spring again!


Bloesem kriebelt hooiHeuschnupfen kitzelt
koorts in mijn neus: Hatsjhoera!in die Nase: Hatschurra!

Het is weer lente!in die Nase: Hatschurra!

Poem S1406
Amsterdam, 2022-05-09

Keywords: Nature: flowers, Spring 
 
 

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