| She has to leave me | |
| against her will, and now our -- | |
| love shackles us both. | |
| Tegen haar wil moet | , |
| ze weggaan, en nu ketent -- | und nun fesselt uns beide -- |
| onze liefde ons. | unsere Liebe. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-19
Poem-fragment E.83 (Sappho)
-650
From the "Lyra Graeca" (1922-1927, John Maxwell Edmonds)
Keywords: Goodbye: leaving, Love: fidelity
Composer: Sappho
| The guard has flat feet, | |
| they are a lot longer than -- | |
| my nuptial chamber. | |
| De platvoeten van | |
| de bewaker zijn langer -- | füße, und sie sind länger -- |
| dan mijn bruidskamer. | als mein Brautgemach. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-19
Poem-fragment E.154 (Sappho)
-650
From the "Lyra Graeca" (1922-1927, John Maxwell Edmonds)
Keyword: Manly (dominance)
Composer: Sappho
| Children are dying | |
| of hunger, then they are food -- | |
| Nothing else to eat. | |
| Kinderen sterven | , |
| van de honger, zij zijn het -- | sie sterben und sind dann die -- |
| enige voedsel. | einzige Nahrung. |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-23
Lamentations 4:10
-587
Palestine in the year 587 BC (destruction of Jerusalem) >> Lamentations 4:10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden [cooked] their own children; they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Keywords: War: death / victims, Bible
| There are small states, and | |
| small states that don't realize -- | |
| that they are small states. | |
| Naast kleine landen | |
| zijn er ook kleine landen -- | Länder und kleine Länder -- |
| die zich groot achten. | die sich groß schätzen. |
Amsterdam, 2019-07-06
Spaak, Paul Henri
There are only two types of state in Europe: small states, and small states that have not yet realized they are small.
Keyword: Power: pride
| While we eat our fill | |
| the elite get the fattest -- | |
| from all our labour. | |
| We eten ons vol | |
| en de elite wordt vet -- | und die Elite wird fett -- |
| van onze arbeid. | von meiner Arbeit. |
Amsterdam, 2022-12-07
(Luigi Pirandello) Pirandello, Luigi
Story " "
Keyword: Elite
| From the violence | |
| of two jostling elephants -- | |
| the grass is injured. | |
| Door het geweld van | |
| drammende olifanten -- | drängelnder Elefanten -- |
| raakt het gras gewond. | wird das Gras verletzt. |
Amsterdam, 2023-10-06
Swahili proverb Anon. [Afrika]
"Ndovu wawili wakigombana ziumiazo ni nyasi" ("When elephants jostle, it is the grass that suffers")
Keyword: Violence: annihilation
| Men invented the | |
| witch and they raised daughters with -- | |
| a fear of the stake. | |
| Mannen bedachten | |
| de heks en voedden dochters -- | Hexen und nährten Töchter -- |
| met brandstapelangst. | mit Verbrennungsangst. |
Amsterdam, 2025-05-27
Smit, Susan
Susan Smit coined the term brandstapelangst (fear of the stake) and has been campaigning for a Witches Monument since 2023
Keywords: Manly (dominance), Womanly (witch)
| A beautiful girl | |
| calls the gods upon herself -- | |
| is the doublethink. | |
| Een mooi meisje roept | |
| de goden over zich af -- | erweckt die Lust der Götter -- |
| is de dubbeldenk. | ist das Doppeldenk. |
Amsterdam, 2026-02-12
Transformations (Ovidius)
8 Ovidius, Orwell, George
- Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
- Doublethink (concept in the novel "1984" by George Orwell): unconsciously spoken untruths, in this case that the girl is guilty of her rape
- Story collection "Metamorphoses": Beautiful girls like Aegina(Z1), Alcmene (Z2), Antiope (Z3), Callisto (Z4), Cassandra (A1), Danaë (Z5), Daphne (A2), Erigone (D), Europa (Z6), Leda (Z7), Medusa (P1), Melantho (P2), Persephone (Z8,H), and Theophane (P3) are assaulted by a god who wants to have sex with her (respectively Zeus, Apollo, Poseidon, Hades)
Keywords: Manly (lust), Rape (trauma)
| Cruel potentates | |
| establish 'peace', simply by -- | |
| creating wastelands. | |
| Dictators stichten | |
| graag 'vrede', door het scheppen -- | 'Frieden', indem sie schaffen: |
| van woestenijen. | Wüste und Ödland. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-08
On the life and character of Julius Agricola (Publius Cornelius Tacitus)
98 Tacitus, Publius
For example, Russia in Syria and Ukraine
Political biography "De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae" ("On the life and character of Julius Agricola", AD 98, Publius Cornelius Tacitus), § 30: 'Auferre trucidare rapere falsis nominibus imperium, atque ibi solitudinem faciunt, pacem apellant' ('To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire, and where they make a desert they call it peace')
Keywords: Power: murder / annihilation, Russia, Peace: and war
| The war is over, | |
| crying, she follows his horse -- | |
| she keeps looking back. | |
| De strijd is voorbij, | , |
| huilend volgt de vrouw zijn paard -- | die Frau weint, folgt seinem Pferd -- |
| en steeds kijkt zij om. | schaut immer zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2020-10-11
The corpses lie stiff along the road of prisoners of war (Haowen Yuan)
1233 Yuan, Haowen
Conquest of the capital Kaifeng by Mongols
Keyword: War: death / victims
| I will drive away | |
| tyranny, law and justice -- | |
| I will soon restore. | |
| De tirannie zal | |
| ik verdrijven, wet en recht -- | treiben, Gesetze und Recht -- |
| zal ik herstellen. | wiederherstellen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-03-21
The tyrant's fate is unfavourable (Domenico Lalli / Antonio Vivaldi)
1716, Lalli, Domenico
Air "La tiranna avversa sorte" (RV 700), from the opera "Arsilda, regina di Ponto", 1st act, 7th scene - Tamese, king of Cilicia
Song "Wilhelmus" (text 1570), since 1932 the Dutch national anthem; 6th verse: 'That I may remain pious, your servant at all times, to drive out the tyranny that wounds my heart'
Keywords: Resistance, Nederland, Together: justice
Composer: Vivaldi, Antonio
| The king raged and raved | |
| through the land, fortunately -- | |
| the sun will return. | |
| De koning raasde | |
| door het land, maar gelukkig -- | durch das Land, aber zum Glück -- |
| breekt de zon weer door. | bricht die Sonne durch. |
De Koog, 2024-09-23
After a horrible storm (Carlo Goldoni / Antonio Vivaldi)
1735 Goldoni, Carlo, Boccaccio, Giovanni
Air "Dopo un'orrida procella" from the opera "Griselda" (freely based on a novella from the "Decamerone" [1353, Giovanni Boccaccio], RV 718), 3rd act, 6th scene - Ottone
Keyword: Power: violence
Composer: Vivaldi, Antonio
| We may not be big, | |
| but if we want, we will win -- | |
| one more Treasure fleet! | |
| Al zijn we niet groot, | , |
| als we willen winnen we -- | sonst gewinnen wir wieder -- |
| weer een Zilvervloot! | die Silberflotte! |
Amsterdam, 2014-11-20
Treasure fleet (Jan Pieter Heije)
1847 Heije, Jan Pieter
Song "Zilvervloot" (music Jan Viotta)
Keywords: Pride: arrogance, Politics
| My knowledge: worthless | |
| nobody does pay for it -- | |
| I would need power. | |
| Mijn kennis is niets | |
| waard, niemand betaalt ervoor -- | wert, niemand bezahlt dafür -- |
| want ik heb geen macht. | ich hab' keine Macht. |
Train Roermond-Eindhoven, 2020-01-12
The story of Ali Baba, the forty robbers and slave girl Mardjana (Jean Varsy)
1850 Varsy, Jean
Story "Hik?yat 'al? b?b? ma'a al-lu?u? al-'arba'?n wa al-dj?r?yyah mardj?nah"
Keyword: Wisdom
| Don't chain a woman, | |
| she will jump up to bite you -- | |
| again and again. | |
| Keten een vrouw niet, | , |
| steeds weer zal ze opspringen -- | sie wird immer aufspringen -- |
| om je te bijten. | um dich zu beißen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-12-30
Chained people (Friedrich Nietzsche)
1881 Nietzsche, Friedrich
Passage "Kettenträger" (#227) im 4. Buch von: "Morgenröte. Gedanken über die moralischen Vorurteile" (Passage "Chained people" in book 4 of: "The Dawn of Day - Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality")
Keyword: Equality: assert
| They banished him and | |
| paid for it with the honour -- | |
| of a bronze statue. | |
| Ze verbanden hem | |
| en betaalden hem de eer -- | und gaben ihm die Ehre -- |
| van een bronzen beeld. | einer Großbronze. |
Amsterdam, 2014-11-29
Letter 358 (Vincent van Gogh)
1883 Van Gogh, Vincent, Hugo, Victor
Quote from Victor Hugo in the letter of July 2nd, 1883 to Theo van Gogh
Keyword: Power: compulsion
| Beauty: an angel | |
| of terror who despises -- | |
| to sweep us away. | |
| Schoonheid: een engel | |
| der verschrikking die versmaadt -- | des Schreckens, der uns verschmäht -- |
| ons weg te vagen. | und noch nicht zerstört. |
Amsterdam, 2019-12-26
The first elegy (Rainer Maria Rilke)
1912 Rilke, Rainer Maria
Poem "Die erste Elegie" (1912, collection "Duineser Elegien", 1922)
Keywords: Beauty: essence, Angel / Devil
| Bump, bump, with those blows | |
| on my head I can't think what -- | |
| to do about it. | |
| Klappen op mijn hoofd. | . |
| Zo kan ik niet nadenken -- | So kann ich nicht nachdenken -- |
| wat eraan te doen. | was ich tun könnte. |
Amsterdam, 2022-06-21
Winnie-the-Pooh (Alan Milne)
1926 Milne, Alan
The beginning of the book
Keyword: Violence: impersonal
| The Great Despots of | |
| our time play with God's Blessing -- | |
| with our precious globe. | |
| Grote Despoten | |
| spelen met Gods zegen -- | spielen mit Gottes Segen -- |
| met de wereldbol. | mit unserer Welt. |
Amsterdam, 2024-12-15
The Great Dictator (Charles Chaplin)
The world as a plaything (Gemma Venhuizen)
1940 Chaplin, Charles, Venhuizen, Gemma
Film "The Great Dictator" (1940, Charles Chaplin)
Column "De wereld als speelbal" ("The world as a plaything", 2024, Gemma Venhuizen), in the NRC of December 4th, 2024 - The leaders of the major countries ignore the climate catastrophe
Keywords: Earth: planet, Politics
| It's tiring to hate, | |
| so you have to act normal -- | |
| in between hating. | |
| Het is vermoeiend | |
| om te haten, tussendoor -- | halb muss man sich zwischendurch -- |
| moet je gewoon doen. | normal verhalten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-02-05
She came to stay (Simone de Beauvoir)
1943 De Beauvoir, Simone
Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" (1943, "She came to stay" / "The Invitee", 1949), part 2, chapter 6
Keyword: Hatred
| I cannot conceive | |
| the years of killing at all -- | |
| Is that a good thing? | |
| Ik begrijp het niet, | , |
| de jaren van het moorden -- | die Jahre der Ermordung -- |
| Is dat maar goed ook? | Ist das gut für mich? |
Amsterdam, 2025-04-11
The murderers are among us (Wolfgang Staudte)
1946 Staudte, Wolfgang, Knef, Hildegard
Film "Die Mörder sind unter uns" - Hildegard Knef as Susanne Wallner
Novel "An Artist of the Floating World" (1986, Kazuo Ishiguro), chapter 'October 1948' - "Brave young men die for stupid causes, and the real culprits are still with us"
Keyword: Power: murder / annihilation
| We're drinking black milk | |
| in our graves, in the deep pits -- | |
| we are forced to dance. | |
| Zwarte melk drinken | |
| we in ons graf, in de kuil -- | wir in unseren Gräbern -- |
| moeten we dansen. | und müssen tanzen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-02-23
Death Fugue (Paul Celan)
1948 Celan, Paul
Poem "Todesfuge" (collection "Der Sand aus den Urnen")
Keyword: Power: murder / annihilation
| To maintain something | |
| as it is, you need to change -- | |
| lots of other things. | |
| Om iets te houden | |
| zoals het is, moet er veel -- | halten wie es ist, muss viel -- |
| veranderd worden. | geändert werden. |
Amsterdam, 2022-07-16
The leopard (Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa)
1958 Tomasi di L, Giuseppe
Power preservation requires a lot of repression
Novel "Il gattopardo"
Se vogliamo che tutto rimanga com'è, bisogna che tutto cambi. (If we want everything to remain as it is, everything must change.)
Keyword: Change: reactionary
| Stacking the corpses | |
| is hard work, it's quite a chore -- | |
| Lighting is easy. | |
| Lijken stapelen | |
| is zwaar werk, een heel karwei -- | ist eine schwere Arbeit -- |
| Aansteken gaat snel. | Anzünden ist schnell. |
Amsterdam, 2020-11-15
Only the mockers speak seriously (Riekus Waskowsky)
1968 Waskowsky, Riekus
Poem "Ernsst redn nor leizim" (collection "Slechts de namen der grote dichters leven voort")
Keyword: Violence: annihilation
| Progress films a war | |
| scene in the little village -- | |
| that it demolished. | |
| De vooruitgang filmt | |
| oorlogsscènes in het dorp -- | Kriegshandlungen in dem Dorf -- |
| dat ze heeft gesloopt. | das er zerstört hat. |
Amsterdam, 2019-12-05
The gods must have their number (Hubert Lampo)
1969 Lampo, Hubert
Novella "De goden moeten hun getal hebben", chapter 8
Keyword: New: renewal
| The nest with swallows: | |
| a squadron squeaks and swishes -- | |
| down onto our cat. | |
| Het zwaluwennest: | : |
| piepend zwiept een eskader -- | ein Geschwader peitscht quietschend -- |
| neer op onze kat. | hin auf die Katze. |
Amsterdam, 2022-05-22
Letter (Jan Wolkers)
1969 Wolkers, Jan
Letter from Texel, September 2nd, 1969, from Jan Wolkers to his son Jeroen
Keyword: Flying: swallow
| Blood runs down the legs | |
| of the town, it's not a dream -- | |
| not a birth either. | |
| Bloed langs de benen | |
| van de stad, het is geen droom -- | der Stadt hinunter: kein Traum -- |
| ook geen geboorte. | und keine Geburt. |
Amsterdam, 2022-06-04
Peace Frog (The Doors)
1970 The Doors
Song (album "Morrison Hotel")
Keyword: Power: violence
| Through our tears we can | |
| sing, you can too, come join us -- | |
| sing with us for peace. | |
| Door je tranen heen | |
| kun je zingen, doe mee, zing -- | könnt ihr singen, macht mit, singt -- |
| met ons om vrede. | mit uns um Frieden. |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-28
No, no, nothing has changed (Marthe Nero / François Bernheim)
1971 Nero, Marthe, Bernheim, François
Song "Non, non, rien n'a changé" (lyrics Marthe Nero, music François Bernheim, sung by Les Poppys)
Keyword: Peace: wish
| Daddy, mam's friend has | |
| my photo, he kisses me -- | |
| and you are not there. | |
| Papa, mama's vriend | |
| heeft mijn foto, hij kust mij -- | hat mein Foto, er küsst mich -- |
| en jij bent er niet. | und du bist nicht da. |
Amsterdam, 2019-11-16
The Death of the Fathers - 5. Friends (Anne Sexton)
1972 Sexton, Anne
Poem (collection "The Book of Folly")
Keyword: Rape (at home / family)
| Their sex, their snoring, | |
| and their taciturn breakfasts: | |
| that way, men are God. | |
| Hun seks, hun snurken, | , |
| en hun zwijgend ontbijten: | und ihr Schweigen beim Frühstück: |
| zo zijn mannen God. | so sind Männer Gott. |
Amsterdam, 2019-11-16
The Fury of Cocks (Anne Sexton)
1974 Sexton, Anne
Poem (collection "The Death Notebooks")
Keyword: Manly (dominance)
| Bring me back my time | |
| after my death, I still want -- | |
| to be rebellious. | |
| Breng me na mijn dood | |
| mijn tijd terug, ik wil nog -- | zurück, ich möchte immer -- |
| steeds opstandig zijn. | noch rebellisch sein. |
Amsterdam, 2020-03-08
Farewell to engagement - 3 (Hans van de Waarsenburg)
1975 Van De Waarsenburg, Hans
Poem "Afscheid van het engagement - 3" (collection "Verschrikkelijke winter")
Keyword: Desire (unrest)
| The Black Unicorn | |
| keeps resisting, she's not good -- | |
| she may not be free. | |
| De Zwarte Eenhoorn | |
| verzet zich, ze is niet goed -- | versetzt sich, sie ist nicht gut -- |
| ze mag niet vrij zijn. | sie darf nicht frei sein. |
Amsterdam, 2021-08-02
The Black Unicorn (Audre Lorde)
1978 Lorde, Audre
Poem (collection "The Black Unicorn")
Keyword: Equality: assert
| We're ready for you, | |
| you can come for a nice break -- | |
| Then we'll come as well. | |
| We staan voor je klaar, | , |
| kom je even tussendoor? | kommst du, mal schnell dazwischen? |
| Dan komen wij ook. | Dann kommen wir auch. |
Amsterdam, 2022-04-08
Crew Slut (Frank Zappa)
1979 Zappa, Frank
Song (album "Joe's Garage")
Frank Zappa Tribute band "2000 Motels" (Q-Factory in Amsterdam, April 8th, 2022)
Keyword: Desire (craving, lust)
Composer: Zappa, Frank
Dedicated to: Valentina Bruno
| The revelation | |
| wakes me: 'I speak to you, and -- | |
| thereby you exist'. | |
| De openbaring | |
| wekt mij: 'Ik spreek tot je, en -- | weckt mich: 'Ich spreche zu dir -- |
| daarmee besta je'. | also bist du da'. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-29
The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
1985 Atwood, Margaret
Novel
Keywords: Religion: revelation, Manly (dominance)
| Picking a flower | |
| to hear the snap, the flower -- | |
| can be thrown away. | |
| Een bloem plukken | |
| om het knappen te horen -- | um das Knacken zu hören -- |
| De bloem gooi je weg. | Dann wirfst du sie weg. |
Train Amsterdam-Vlissingen, 2019-06-04
Maurits and the facts (Gerrit Krol)
1986 Krol, Gerrit
Novel "Maurits en de feiten", § 12
Keywords: Violence: impersonal, Ethics: practice
| Many things exist | |
| nameless and untraceable -- | |
| Declared illegal. | |
| Veel bestaat naamloos | |
| en onvindbaar, verboden -- | namenlos, verboten durch -- |
| door nieuwe wetten. | neue Gesetze. |
Amsterdam, 2018-08-02
The beginning of spring (Penelope Fitzgerald)
1988 Fitzgerald, Penelope
Novel
Keyword: Power: laws
| The censor unpacks | |
| my crockery set, smooths out -- | |
| the papers and reads. | |
| De censor pakt mijn | |
| servies uit, strijkt de kranten -- | Geschirr aus, die Zeitungen -- |
| glad en leest ze dan. | glättet er, liest er. |
Amsterdam, 2018-08-04
The beginning of spring (Penelope Fitzgerald)
1988 Fitzgerald, Penelope
Novel
Keyword: Power: wielding
| I have a gun and | |
| like to have it with me, but -- | |
| where can I put it? | |
| Ik heb een pistool, | |
| ik wil het bij mij hebben -- | ich mit mir haben, aber -- |
| maar waar laat ik het? | wo lasse ich sie? |
Amsterdam, 2021-10-10
In the fog of the Underworld (Willem Frederik Hermans)
1993 Hermans, Willem Frederik
Novella "In de mist van het schimmenrijk"
Keyword: Safety: security / comfort
| A war is concrete, | |
| but it always starts abstract -- | |
| with words, with language. | |
| Oorlog is concreet, | , |
| maar begint altijd abstract -- | doch beginnt immer abstrakt -- |
| met woorden, met taal. | mit Worten, Sprache. |
Amsterdam, 2021-10-14
The virtuoso (Margriet de Moor)
1993 De Moor, Margriet
Novel "De virtuoos"
Keyword: Combat readiness
| The town has thick walls | |
| to protect.. the countryside -- | |
| from expansion drive. | |
| Dikke stadsmuren | |
| beschermen.. het platteland -- | beschützen.. das platte Land -- |
| tegen uitbreiding. | vor Ausdehnungsdrang. |
Amsterdam, 2022-05-22
The skimmer of time (Jan Wolkers)
1994 Wolkers, Jan
Essay "De schuimspaan van de tijd" (in "Rembrandt in Rommeldam")
Keyword: City (stone & steel)
| He will save you, yes | |
| he can, he gives you money -- | |
| with his red right hand. | |
| Hij zal je redden, | , |
| hij kan dat, hij geeft je geld -- | er kann das, er gibt dir Geld -- |
| met zijn rode hand. | mit der roten Hand. |
Amsterdam, 2024-10-06
Red Right Hand (Nick Cave)
1994 Cave, Nick
Song, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, album "Let Love In"
Keyword: Power: wealth
| The sun takes a stand | |
| in the middle of the street -- | |
| breathing burning hot. | |
| De zon gaat midden | , |
| op de straat staan, roodgloeiend -- | mitten auf der Straße, rot -- |
| zijn hete adem. | sein heißer Atem. |
Amsterdam, 2022-10-17
Landscape with suns (Tomas Tranströmer)
1996 Tranströmer, Tomas
Poem "Landskap med solar" (collection "Sorgegondolen")
Keyword: Sun: blazing
| He is elected: | |
| goal achieved, democracy -- | |
| no longer useful. | |
| Hij is gekozen: | : |
| doel bereikt, democratie -- | Ziel erreicht, Demokratie -- |
| is niet meer nodig. | ist nicht mehr nötig. |
Amsterdam, 2019-12-12
Democracy is a train (Recep Tayyip Erdo?an)
1996 Erdogan, Recep Tayyip
Poem with the lines "Demokrasi bir trendir. Amac?m?za vard???m?zda o trenden ineriz." ("Democracy is [like] a train. You get off once you have reached your destination.", 1996, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, in the newspaper Milliyet [Nationality])
Keyword: Power: pride
| Behind me: rulers | |
| with a look at the future -- | |
| instead of a face. | |
| Achter mij: heersers | |
| met een blik op de toekomst -- | mit dem Blick auf die Zukunft -- |
| Zonder gezichten. | Ohne Gesichter. |
Amsterdam, 2022-10-17
Nightbook-page (Tomas Tranströmer)
1996 Tranströmer, Tomas
Poem "Nattbokensida" (collection "Sorgegondolen")
Keyword: Power: uniform
| Sometimes civilised, | |
| refined and choosy, sometimes -- | |
| a barbarian. | |
| Soms ben je beschaafd, | , |
| verfijnd en kieskeurig, soms -- | gewählt und wählerisch, mal -- |
| ben je een barbaar. | barbarisch... bist du. |
Amsterdam, 2023-07-28
The PowerBook (Jeanette Winterson)
2000 Winterson, Jeanette
Novel, chapter "OPEN HARD DRIVE"
Keyword: Care: earth / environment
| We're barbarians: | |
| people who destroy what they -- | |
| do not understand. | |
| Iedereen barbaar, | : |
| iemand die alles vernielt -- | jemand, der alles zerstört -- |
| wat hij niet begrijpt. | was er nicht versteht. |
Amsterdam, 2023-07-28
The PowerBook (Jeanette Winterson)
2000 Winterson, Jeanette
Novel, chapter "OPEN HARD DRIVE"
Keyword: Violence: annihilation
| Just five inches of | |
| barbed wire from the war, that small -- | |
| can remembrance be. | |
| Twaalf centimeter | |
| oorlogsprikkeldraad, zo klein -- | Kriegsstacheldraht, ja so klein -- |
| kan gedenken zijn. | kann ein Denkmal sein. |
Amsterdam, 2014-02-22
Memorial (Jules Deelder)
2001 Deelder, Jules
Poem "Denkmal" (collection "N.V. Verga")
Keyword: War: remembrance
| Hit by censorship, | |
| my head pounds on the keys: sfggejjjjjpelkpportyhh! | |
| the word of despair. | |
| De censuur slaat me, | |
| mijn hoofd bonst op de toetsen -- | hin auf die Tastatur: sfggejjjjjpelkpportyhh! |
| het wanhoopswoord: sfggejjjjjpelkpportyhh! | das Verzweiflungswort. |
Amsterdam, 2020-06-26
Portrait of the poet in front of his computer (Fouad Laroui)
2002 Laroui, Fouad
Portret van de dichter voor zijn computer (collection "verbannen woorden")
Keyword: Censorship
| I will jump away | |
| from gravity, the power -- | |
| of his unfair play. | |
| Ik wil wegspringen | , |
| van de zwaartekracht, de macht -- | weg von dem Schwerkraft, dem Macht -- |
| van zijn valse spel. | seines falschen Spiels. |
Amsterdam, 2025-11-19
Defying Gravity (Stephen Schwartz)
2003 Schwartz, Stephen
Song (sung by Idina Menzel [Elphaba] and Kristin Chenoweth [Glinda], musical "Wicked")
Keywords: Power: compulsion, Politics
| The civil servant | |
| takes the money, and the punch -- | |
| that he could not find. | |
| De ambtenaar neemt | |
| het geld en hij pakt de schaar -- | das Geld, und die Schere, die -- |
| die onvindbaar was. | unauffindbar war. |
Amsterdam, 2022-07-15
The civil servant received me (Mustafa Stitou)
2003 Stitou, Mustafa
Prohibited termination of dual nationality
Poem "De ambtenaar ontving mij" (collection "Varkensroze ansichten")
Keyword: Power: wielding
| I prefer a god | |
| of clay and pebbles to one -- | |
| of guilt and penance. | |
| Liever een god van | |
| aarde en stenen dan een -- | Ton und Steinen als einer -- |
| van schuld en boete. | der Schuld und Sühne. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-08
A Change of tongue (Antjie Krog)
2003 Krog, Antjie
Tale, part 1 § 6, "Chapter six"
Keyword: Religion: God(s)
| I am not letting | |
| your gun win, so if you want -- | |
| shoot, just shoot to death. | |
| Ik laat jouw geweer | |
| niet winnen, dus als je wilt -- | niemals, aber wenn du willst -- |
| schiet, schiet dan maar dood. | schieße dann mal tot. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-08
A Change of tongue (Antjie Krog)
2003 Krog, Antjie
Tale, part 1 § 6
Keyword: Power: murder / annihilation
| Elections again: | |
| there are sealed ballot boxes -- | |
| preserved from last time. | |
| Weer verkiezingen: | : |
| verzegelde stembussen -- | versiegelte Wahlurnen -- |
| van vorige keer. | noch vom letzten Mal. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-10
A Change of tongue (Antjie Krog)
2003 Krog, Antjie
Tale, part 3 § 7
Keywords: Elections, Politics
| Create enemies, | |
| then the elite can go on -- | |
| stealing from the state. | |
| Schep een vijand, dan | |
| kan de elite blijven -- | kann die Elite weiter -- |
| stelen van de staat. | den Staat ausrauben. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-11
A Change of tongue (Antjie Krog)
2003 Krog, Antjie
Kleptocracy
Tale, part 4
Keywords: Elite, Greed
| What is wrong with this | |
| country, that someone's good deeds -- | |
| are always punished? | |
| Wat is er met dit | |
| land, dat goede daden er -- | sem Land, dass guten Taten -- |
| afgestraft worden? | abgestraft werden? |
Amsterdam, 2025-11-19
No Good Deed (Stephen Schwartz)
2003 Schwartz, Stephen
Song (sung by Idina Menzel [Elphaba], musical "Wicked")
Keyword: Order: chaos
| Theft and deception | |
| built palaces: injustice -- | |
| turned into the law. | |
| Diefstal en bedrog | |
| bouwden paleizen: onrecht -- | bauten Paläste: Unrecht -- |
| is wet geworden. | wurde zum Gesetz. |
Amsterdam, 2020-06-27
Economic analysis (Fouad Laroui)
2004 Laroui, Fouad
Economische analyse (collection "Hollandse woorden")
Keyword: Power: laws
| Your leg on my thigh | |
| provokes me, then you ask me: | |
| This is fun, isn't it? | |
| Jouw been op mijn dij | |
| daagt me uit en je vraagt me: | provoziert mich und du fragst: |
| Vermaak je je wel? | Amüsierst du dich? |
Amsterdam, 2022-06-23
Francisca Porto (Paul Janssen)
2004 Janssen, Paul
Poem (collection "Instructies voor een ober")
Keyword: In love: allurement
| This is politics: | |
| take whatever you can get -- | |
| Who's surprised by that? | |
| Dat is politiek: | : |
| nemen wat je krijgen kunt -- | man nimmt, was man kriegen kann -- |
| Wie verbaast zich nog? | Wer wundert es noch? |
Amsterdam, 2025-01-15
Nothing surprises me anymore (Tiken Jah Fakoly)
2004 Fakoly, Tiken Jah
Song "Plus rien ne m'étonne", album "Coup de gueule" ("Rant")
Keywords: Greed, Politics
| All the white angels. | |
| sway, they are singing of us: | |
| of our division. | |
| Witte engelen | |
| zingen wiegend over ons: | sich und singen über uns -- |
| over verdeeldheid. | unsere Zwietracht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-01-15
Nothing surprises me anymore (Tiken Jah Fakoly)
2004 Fakoly, Tiken Jah
Song "Plus rien ne m'étonne", album "Coup de gueule" ("Rant")
Keywords: Together: discord, Angel / Devil
| Father is a sea, | |
| he's never still, sometimes calm -- | |
| until the next flood. | |
| Vader is een zee, | , |
| nooit stil, soms rustig, tot aan -- | nie still, nur manchmal ruhig -- |
| de volgende vloed. | bis zur nächsten Flut. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-08
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Jeanette Winterson)
2005 Winterson, Jeanette
Myth Retelling, chapter Weight of the world
Keywords: Parents: father(hood), Manly (aggression)
| Mother growls and grunts | |
| before finally spitting -- | |
| out clouds of magma. | |
| Moeder gromt en bromt | |
| heel lang voor ze eindelijk -- | lange, bevor sie schließlich -- |
| haar magma uitspuwt. | ihr Magma ausspuckt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-08
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Jeanette Winterson)
2005 Winterson, Jeanette
Myth Retelling, chapter Weight of the world
Keyword: Parents: mother(hood)
| Powerless people | |
| can only listen and know -- | |
| Be an accomplice. | |
| Wie machteloos is | |
| kan alleen maar toehoren -- | nur zuhören und wissen -- |
| Medeplichtig zijn. | Ein Komplize sein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-08
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Jeanette Winterson)
2005 Winterson, Jeanette
Myth Retelling, chapter Weight of the world
Keyword: Powerlessness (lack of freedom)
| No one can bring down | |
| a hero, he has to do -- | |
| it all by himself. | |
| Niemand kan een held | |
| ten val brengen, dat moet hij -- | Helden zu Fall bringen, das -- |
| helemaal zelf doen. | muss er ja selbst tun. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-08
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Jeanette Winterson)
2005 Winterson, Jeanette
Myth Retelling, chapter Heracles
Keyword: Hero(ine)
| A man with power | |
| doesn't have to pay attention -- | |
| it is done for him. | |
| Als je macht hebt, hoef | , |
| je niet op te letten, dat -- | muss nicht aufmerksam sein, das -- |
| wordt voor je gedaan. | wird für ihn getan. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-08
Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Jeanette Winterson)
2005 Winterson, Jeanette
Myth Retelling, chapter Three golden apples
Keyword: Power: compulsion
| Politics revolves | |
| around trying to control -- | |
| our powerlessness. | |
| Politiek draait om | |
| het trachten te beheersen -- | um die Kontrolle über -- |
| van onze onmacht. | unsere Ohnmacht. |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-06
Vladiwostok! (P.F. Thomése)
2007 Thomése, Pieter Frans
Novel, part 1, chapter 9
Keywords: Change: process, Politics
| Gee, where exactly | |
| are the landmines that I placed -- | |
| the lies and the truths? | |
| O jee, waar liggen | |
| de landmijnen, de leugens -- | die Landminen, die Lügen -- |
| en de waarheden? | und die Wahrheiten? |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-09
Vladiwostok! (P.F. Thomése)
2007 Thomése, Pieter Frans
Novel, part 3, chapter 28
Keywords: Truth: lie, Politics
| Finding the greater | |
| problem and proclaiming it -- | |
| thát is politics! | |
| Het beste probleem | |
| vinden en verkondigen -- | auffinden und verkünden -- |
| dát is politiek! | dás ist Politik! |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-06
Vladiwostok! (P.F. Thomése)
2007 Thomése, Pieter Frans
Novel, part 1, chapter 11
Keyword: Politics
| Power is itself, | |
| you can never possess it -- | |
| you only use it. | |
| Macht is zelfstandig, | , |
| die kun je niet bezitten -- | man kann sie nicht besitzen -- |
| die gebruik je slechts. | man kann sie nutzen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-06
Vladiwostok! (P.F. Thomése)
2007 Thomése, Pieter Frans
Novel, part 1, chapter 11
Keyword: Power: manipulation
| The white prison guards | |
| lock up the black souls in white -- | |
| imaginations. | |
| De witte cipiers | |
| sluiten zwarte zielen op -- | sperren schwarze Seelen ein -- |
| in witte beelden. | in weißen Bildern. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-19
Black Bodies, White Gazes: the Continuing Significance of Race (George Yancy)
2008 Yancy, George
Book
Keyword: Colonialism
| The cops let me go | |
| since my dog is too frightful -- | |
| to be taken in. | |
| Mij laten ze gaan, | |
| want mijn hond is te lastig -- | gehen, weil mein Hund zu schwer -- |
| te arresteren. | festzunehmen ist. |
Amsterdam, 2018-11-26
The Commune (Franca Treur)
2014 Treur, Franca
Novel "De woongroep", chapter 37
Keyword: Animals: dog
| Adam had taught him | |
| to kill, but killing a man -- | |
| is no longer peace. | |
| Adam leerde hem | |
| doden, maar een mens doodslaan -- | zu töten, aber ein Mord -- |
| is geen vrede meer. | ist kein Frieden mehr. |
Amsterdam, 2016-10-05
Acquittal for Cain - the mother (Hester Knibbe)
2014 Knibbe, Hester
Poem "Vrijspraak voor Kain - de moeder" (collection "Archaïsch de dieren")
Matthew 26:52 (For all they that take the sword will perish with the sword) about Abel?
Keywords: Death: kill, Bible
| My naked body | |
| is nobody, in jute -- | |
| tied around my head. | |
| Mijn naakte lichaam | |
| is niemand, in een postzak -- | ist niemand, im Leinensack -- |
| om mijn hoofd geknoopt. | über meinem Kopf. |
Amsterdam, 2021-04-15
Chroma (Buhlebezwe Simani)
2014 Simani, Buhlebezwe
Performance
Execution
Keywords: Power: violence, Identity: loss
| Blindfolded she lies | |
| there bleeding, she has been raped -- | |
| our Lady Justice. | |
| Geblinddoekt ligt ze | , |
| te bloeden, de verkrachte -- | blind, die vergewaltigte -- |
| Vrouwe Justitie. | Frau Justitia. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-06
Lady Justice blindfolded - 1 (Antjie Krog)
2014 Krog, Antjie
Poem "Vrou Justitia geblinddoek" - 1 (collection "Mede-wete" ("Synapse")
Keywords: Power: pride, Power: laws
| Lady Justice just | |
| weighs the laws, regardless of -- | |
| whether it is just. | |
| Vrouwe Justitie | |
| weegt de wetten, ongeacht -- | die Gesetze ab, egal -- |
| wat rechtvaardig is. | ob es gerecht ist. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-06
Lady Justice blindfolded - 7 (Antjie Krog)
2014 Krog, Antjie
Poem "Vrou Justitia geblinddoek" - 7 (collection "Mede-wete" ("Synapse")
Keyword: Ethics: laws
| The laws are asleep, | |
| with the rich, while injustice -- | |
| sleeps among the poor. | |
| De wetten slapen | |
| bij de rijken, het onrecht -- | mit den Reichen, das Unrecht -- |
| slaapt bij de armen. | schläft mit den Armen. |
Amsterdam, 2023-09-06
Lady Justice blindfolded - 7 (Antjie Krog)
2014 Krog, Antjie
Poem "Vrou Justitia geblinddoek" - 7 (collection "Mede-wete" ("Synapse")
Keywords: Elite, Poverty: practice
| You did, you said: you. | |
| As if I just have to be -- | |
| obliging to you. | |
| Jawel, je zei: jij.. | . |
| Alsof ik zomaar voor jou -- | Als müsste ich dir einfach -- |
| gedienstig moet zijn. | nur behilflich sein. |
Amsterdam, 2023-10-27
Citizen: An American Lyric - VII (Claudia Rankine)
2014 Rankine, Claudia
Poem (collection "Citizen: An American Lyric")
Keyword: Equality: assert
| You did, you said: I. | |
| How dare you! What do you think! | |
| That you are something? | |
| Jawel, je zei: ik.. | . |
| Hoe durf je! Wat denk je wel! | Was fällt dir ein! Was glaubst du! |
| Dat je heel wat bent? | Dass du etwas bist? |
Amsterdam, 2023-10-27
Citizen: An American Lyric - VII (Claudia Rankine)
2014 Rankine, Claudia
Poem (collection "Citizen: An American Lyric")
Keyword: Equality: assert
| I wipe and I swing | |
| with red paint and machetes -- | |
| bloodstains upon me. | |
| Ik veeg rode verf | |
| rond en zwaai met kapmessen -- | und Macheten schwinge ich -- |
| bloedvlekken op mij. | Blutflecken auf mich. |
Amsterdam, 2021-04-15
Towards intersections (Buhlebezwe Simani)
2015 Simani, Buhlebezwe
Performance
Keyword: Violence: annihilation
| Battles and heroes | |
| of the past are homages -- | |
| to murder, shameless. | |
| Veldslagen, helden | |
| van vroeger, een eerbetoon -- | sind unsere Hommagen -- |
| aan moord, schaamteloos. | an Mord, so schamlos. |
Amsterdam, 2020-03-23
Solle's story (Andreas Oosthoek)
2015 Oosthoek, Andreas
Novel "Het relaas van Solle", chapter 43
Keyword: Honour / Fame
| Large mirrors, lackeys, | |
| and harpist players in silk -- | |
| The hearth-fire crackles. | |
| Spiegels, lakeien | |
| en harpistes in zijde -- | und drei Harfenistinnen -- |
| Het haardvuur knettert. | Das Feuer knistert. |
Amsterdam, 2022-01-23
Poubelle (Pieter Waterdrinker)
2016 Waterdrinker, Pieter
Decadence
Novel ("Waste container")
Keyword: Power: wealth
| Massages with wine | |
| and views of the rebellion -- | |
| in a sound landscape. | |
| Massages met wijn | |
| en beelden van de opstand -- | und Filmbildern des Aufstands -- |
| in een klanklandschap. | in Klanglandschaften. |
Amsterdam, 2022-01-25
Poubelle (Pieter Waterdrinker)
2016 Waterdrinker, Pieter
Decadence
Novel ("Waste container")
Keyword: Power: wealth
| There is a shot hole | |
| in the photo on the hearts -- | |
| of fallen soldiers. | |
| Er zit een gat in | |
| het fotootje op het hart -- | im Foto auf den Herzen -- |
| van gesneuvelden. | der Gefallenen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-01-07
recently (Anjet Daanje)
2016 Daanje, Anjet
Novel "jl." (the title also refers to Juno Linnaarts), chapter August 1st, 2008
Keyword: War: death / victims
| Sometimes you have to | |
| express out loud what you think -- | |
| to validate it. | |
| Soms een gedachte | |
| hardop moeten uitspreken -- | ausdrücken, was man bedenkt -- |
| dan is ze geldig. | dann ist es gültig. |
Amsterdam, 2018-10-05
How everything had to begin (Thomas Verbogt)
2017 Verbogt, Thomas
Novel "Hoe alles moest beginnen"
Keywords: Choice, Truth: reveal
| His cat is called Cord, | |
| his dog Sponge, the fish Air: like -- | |
| how he can kill them. | |
| Zijn ezel heet Priem, | , |
| zijn hond Spons, de vis Lucht: zo -- | sein Hund Schwamm, der Fisch Luft: so -- |
| kan hij ze doden. | kann er sie töten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-02
The man with the prey and the cracks (Delphine Lecompte)
2017 Lecompte, Delphine
Poem "De man met de prooien en de barsten", collection "Western", part 2: whore
Keyword: Power: murder / annihilation
| To achieve your goal | |
| by pursuing other goals -- | |
| to be nullified. | |
| Je doel bereiken, | , |
| steeds door andere doelen -- | da du andere Ziele -- |
| uit te schakelen. | völlig vernichtest. |
Amsterdam, 2019-02-09
imaginary dictator's quotes #21 (Jon Nakapalau)
2019 Nakapalau, Jon
Poem (AllPoetry.com)
Keyword: Violence: annihilation
| We lock up troubled | |
| teens, being too reluctant -- | |
| to take any blame. | |
| Probleemjongeren | |
| sluiten we op, onwillig -- | sperren wir ein, ohne Schuld -- |
| schuld te bekennen. | einzugestehen. |
Amsterdam, 2019-08-04
Interview with Dimitri Verhulst
2019 Verhulst, Dimitri
'Zomeravondgesprek'-interview ('Summer Evening Talk'-interview) in the nrc.weekend of August 3rd, 2019
Keyword: Together: society
| Gents enjoy themselves | |
| with the honour of athletes -- | |
| It is a contest. | |
| Macht vermaakt zich graag | |
| met de eer van topsporters -- | mit der Ehre von Sportler -- |
| Het is een wedstrijd. | Es ist ein Wettkampf. |
Egmond aan Zee, 2021-10-24
The guardian of the hill of cherry trees (Franco Faggiani)
2019 Faggiani, Franco
Novel "Il guardiano della collina dei ciliegi"
Keyword: Power: pride
| The earthworm wriggles | |
| in the beak, violently -- | |
| cut into pieces. | |
| De aardworm spartelt | |
| in de snavel, bloeddorstig -- | im Schnabel, wird blutrünstig -- |
| in stukken geknipt. | entzweigeschnitten. |
Amsterdam, 2020-05-02
Blackbirds (Willem Thies)
2020 Thies, Willem
Poem "Merels" (collection "Schoon")
Keywords: Animals: worm / maggot, Flying: thrush / blackbird
| People are party | |
| to politics for the peace -- | |
| of self-interest. | |
| Aan politiek doen | |
| mensen mee voor de vrede -- | Politik für den Frieden -- |
| van eigenbelang. | des Eigennutzes. |
Amsterdam, 2022-02-08
The rat of Amsterdam (Pieter Waterdrinker)
2020 Waterdrinker, Pieter
Novel "De rat van Amsterdam"
Keywords: Egocentrism, Politics
| They showed us the rock | |
| on which we sharpened our swords -- | |
| and then we killed them. | |
| Ze wezen de rots | , |
| aan, we slepen de zwaarden -- | wo wir die Schwerter wetzten -- |
| die hen vermoordden. | um sie zu töten. |
Amsterdam, 2022-06-21
Lessons for Luca (Salvador Gieling)
2021 Gieling, Salvador
Sibanicú (Cuba) in het jaar 1513; the villagers help the Spanisch conquerors (colonisers)
Film "Lessons for Luca"
Keyword: Betrayal
| Hear, I am praying | |
| to God every day, please, do -- | |
| let me play music. | |
| Ik bid elke dag | |
| tot God, alstublieft, laat me -- | zu Gott, bitte, lasse mich -- |
| toch muziek maken. | doch Musik machen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-07-29
God, Allow Me (Please) to Play Music (Voice of Baceprot)
2021 Voice of Baceprot
Song
Keyword: Self-expression (oppressed)
| When I hear seagulls, | |
| I hear the cry of the girl -- | |
| they keelhauled to death. | |
| Als ik meeuwen hoor, | |
| hoor ik het meisje schreeuwen -- | furchtbar schrill, wie das Mädchen -- |
| dat werd gekielhaald. | das gekielt wurde. |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-23
Oarsman on the Drowning of Nisuss Daughter Scylla (Fiona Benson)
2021 Benson, Fiona
Poem, published on the Granta website (2021) and in the collection "Ephemeron" (2022)
Keyword: Power: murder / annihilation
| Days of street protests | |
| stay with me, the repugnance -- | |
| the anger, the wound. | |
| De straatprotesten | |
| blijven me bij, de weerwil -- | hält an, die Widerwille -- |
| de woede, de wond. | die Wut, die Wunde. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-14
#FeesMustFall - October 2015 (Antjie Krog)
2022 Krog, Antjie
Poem (collection "Plunder" ["Pillage"])
Keyword: Resistance
| Our beloved king | |
| must shine as if he is free -- | |
| in his golden cage. | |
| Onze koning moet | |
| stralen alsof hij vrij is -- | leuchten, als wäre er frei -- |
| in zijn gouden kooi. | in dem Goldkäfig. |
Amsterdam, 2022-04-26
Interview with Rodaan Al Galidi
2022 Al Galidi, Rodaan
"The King of the Netherlands", interview in NRC, April 26th, 2022, and the book "Leef, mens. Leef!" ("Man, live. Live!", 2022)
Keywords: Together: society, Nederland, Politics
| They have braced themselves, | |
| their heels in the solid earth -- | |
| their boots full of fear. | |
| Ze zetten zich schrap, | , |
| hun hakken in de aarde -- | die Fersen in der Erde -- |
| hun laarzen vol angst. | Stiefel voller Angst. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-16
the making visible of all kinds of raids (Antjie Krog)
2022 Krog, Antjie
Soldiers
Poem "die sigbaarmaking van allerlei strooptogte"(collection "Plunder" ["Pillage"])
Keyword: War: resistance
| Snatching rivals in | |
| sheep's clothing is supposed to -- | |
| be democratic? | |
| Je concurrenten | |
| verschalken in schaapskleren -- | im Schafspelz erhaschen soll -- |
| is democratisch? | demokratisch sein? |
Amsterdam, 2025-10-28
Grant me a language in which I can engage in genderless relationships with the world (Alara Adilow)
2022 Adilow, Alara
Poem "Schenk mij een taal waarin ik genderloze verhoudingen kan aangaan met de wereld", collection "Mythen en stoplichten" ("Myths and traffic lights")
Keywords: Power: manipulation, Politics
| The promised city | |
| for beggars: there are no roads -- | |
| leading there at all. | |
| De beloofde stad, | : |
| speciaal voor bedelaars: | es gibt gar keine Straßen -- |
| daar leidt geen weg heen. | die dorthin führen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-19
The future of truth (Werner Herzog)
2024 Herzog, Werner
Book "Die Zukunft der Wahrheit", chapter Bokassa's daughter(s) - Beggars were apparently flown to the non-existent new town of Bokassaville, but in reality were dropped over the jungle en route
Keyword: Power: violence
| Mummy And Daddy: | |
| playing this game, I always -- | |
| had to be the dog. | |
| Bij het vadertje | : |
| en moedertje spelen was -- | bei diesem Spiel musste ich -- |
| ik altijd de hond. | immer der Hund sein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-10
Interview with Yvonne Kroonenberg
2025 Kroonenberg, Yvonne
Interview by Rinskje Koelewijn with Yvonne Kroonenberg, in the NRC of June 1st, 2025
Keywords: Playing: learn, Animals: dog
