|
The towers project like shadows | |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-08
Five poems by Frida Vogels Vogels, Frida
December 22nd, 1959 - The besieged city no one can approach
October 4th, 1962 - The enemy is in the city
June 3rd, 1965 - The sentry, who merely keeps watch, motionless
July 22nd, 1965 - The citadel
November 13th, 1965 - No one threatened the city anymore; as was the custom
Keyword: War: daily life
|
Strangers raised low walls | |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-11
Four poems by Frida Vogels Vogels, Frida
October 5th, 1962 - They lacked nothing
October 5th, 1965 - One resorts to what one has already tried, is never
November 18th, 1965 - The betrayal lured him
August 28th, 1966 - He who is abandoned is to blame, he who finds himself alone one morning
Keyword: Fear: menace
|
Brotherly love has a knife | |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-16
Four poems by Frida Vogels Vogels, Frida
Italian proverb: 'Amore di fratello, amore col coltello' (Brotherly love, love with a knife), mentioned in the autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken" (2024, Frida Vogels, chapter 'Kees en ik' - March 11th, 1983, Bologna)
September 7th, 1964 - I rarely can get out and look for you
September 8th, 1964 - While you're wandering around defenceless somewhere
June 22nd, 1965 - I can't write like I speak
January 11th, 1966 - The horrors of that day
Keyword: Family: siblings
|
I suffered a defeat | |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-18
Three poems by Frida Vogels Vogels, Frida
October 17th, 1952 - Alone, alone, one is alone too much
August 30th, 1966 - A baneling
April 1st, 1969 - A defeat is not what was expected
Keyword: Alone: separated
|
I approach the enemy | |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-20
Two poems by Frida Vogels Vogels, Frida
December 27th, 1956 - Cowardice is going to meet the enemy
July 10th, 1964 - Not yet venturing into battle
The trench-coat is made of gabardine, a waterproof and warm fabric
Keyword: War: attack
| Trying to find an | |
| attitude, as attitude -- | |
| staying on the side. | |
| Oplettend zoekend | |
| naar een houding, als houding -- | einer Haltung, als Haltung -- |
| opzij blijven staan. | beiseite bleiben. |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-05
The hard core - 1, and Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
1992 Vogels, Frida
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" - 1 (1992), and "Dagboek 1966-1967" (2009) - April 24th, 1966, Amsterdam
Keyword: Uncertainty
| Read my family | |
| story, it is a portrait -- | |
| how I see myself. | |
| Lees mijn familie- | |
| verhaal, het is een portret -- | geschichte, mein Porträt, wie -- |
| hoe ik mijzelf zie. | ich mich selbst sehe. |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-06
The hard core - 1 (Frida Vogels)
1992 Vogels, Frida
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" - 1, May 4th, 1966, Amsterdam
Keyword: Identity: self-image
| Not the way it is, | |
| only the way it happens -- | |
| my life is okay. | |
| Niet zoals het is, | , |
| maar zoals het gebeurt, is -- | aber so wie es geschieht -- |
| mijn leven oké. | ist mein Leben gut. |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-06
The hard core - 1, and Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
1992 Vogels, Frida
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" - 1 (1992), and "Dagboek 1966-1967" (2009) - May 15th, 1966, Blaricum
Keyword: Lifestream (on the way)
| In music you sense | |
| Order, wow, it just happens | |
| A perfect world now! | |
| Met muziek voel je | |
| Orde, jee, zomaar ineens | Ordnung, das passiert einfach -- |
| Alles vervolmaakt! | Die perfekte Welt! |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-06
The hard core - 1 (Frida Vogels)
1992 Vogels, Frida
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" - 1, Summer 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Music: order, harmony
| A tree uprooted, | |
| mud, a crack in the rock-ledge -- | |
| and clear spring water! | |
| Een boom ontworteld, | , |
| modder, een barst in de rots -- | Schlamm, ein Riss in der Felswand -- |
| helder bronwater! | klares Quellwasser! |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-06
The hard core - 1 (Frida Vogels)
1992 Vogels, Frida
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" - 1, Summer 1966, Bologna
Keywords: Wonder / Marvel, Nature: trees, forest
| Viewpoint: I follow | |
| his gaze, he's looking for two -- | |
| and leaving nothing. | |
| Een uitzichtpunt: ik | |
| volg zijn blik, hij kijkt voor twee -- | seinem Blick, er schaut für zwei -- |
| en laat niets over. | und lässt nichts zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2017-08-11
The hard core - 1 (Frida Vogels)
1992 Vogels, Frida
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" - 1, Autumn 1967, Bologna
Keywords: Together: discord, Manly (dominance)
| Forge myself, into | |
| what feels right, into this trap -- | |
| with a strangling mesh. | |
| Ik dwing mezelf, tot | |
| wat juist voelt, deze fuik in -- | Reuse, die eine Masche -- |
| Tot een maas me wurgt. | hat, die mich erwürgt. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-12
Forcing yourself to (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Zich dwingen tot", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part VII, Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 3rd, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Passion
| When travelling I | |
| only accept, like a queen -- | |
| a snack and a drink. | |
| Op reis aanvaard ik | |
| als een koning alleen wat -- | ich, wie ein König, nur ein -- |
| eten en drinken. | wenig Essen an. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
I accept nothing but small gifts (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Niets accepteer ik, dan kleine geschenken", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part III [Ennio and Kees]) - January 9th, 1964, Bologna
Keywords: Hospitality, Simplicity
| The path I chose serves | |
| me no purpose. No problem -- | |
| there is no purpose. | |
| De weg die ik koos | |
| dient me tot niets, dat geeft niet -- | dient mir keinem Zweck, schon gut -- |
| want er is geen doel. | es gibt keinen Zweck. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
Does it serve any purpose? Does it lead you to your goal (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Dialogue "Dient het tot iets? Brengt het je naar je doel", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 9th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Life: course (on the way)
| Then everything changed, | |
| but very soon everyone -- | |
| adapted to it. | |
| Toen veranderde | |
| alles, maar al gauw paste -- | alles, aber bald passten -- |
| iedereen zich aan. | sich alle dran an. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
One shock, one boulder (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Eén schok, één rotsblok", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IV [Frida], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 1st, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Change: revolution
| Make preparations | |
| for a surprise, take your time -- | |
| before you attack. | |
| Voorbereidingen | |
| treffen voor een verrassing -- | eine Überraschung vor -- |
| en dan aanvallen. | und greife dann an. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
Not yet venturing into battle (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Zich nog niet wagen aan de strijd", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IV [Frida], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 10th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: War: attack
| I write to bottle | |
| my life experiences -- | |
| into bottle ships. | |
| Schrijvend bottel ik | |
| mijn levenservaringen -- | meine Erfahrungen ab -- |
| tot flessenscheepjes. | in Flaschenschiffe. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
A lifetime of ropes, sails, planks (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Een leven lang met touwen, zeilen, planken", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - November 26th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Writing: preserve
| My Promised Land is | |
| my comfort, I can see it -- | |
| but not enter it. | |
| Mijn Beloofde Land | |
| is mijn troost, ik kan het zien -- | ist mein Trost, ich sehe es -- |
| maar niet binnengaan. | kann aber nicht rein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
Canaan (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Kanaän", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]) - December 3rd, 1964, Bologna - Moses
Keyword: Comfort (consolation)
| After a long time | |
| we are back here, together -- | |
| to clear the room out. | |
| Na lange tijd weer | |
| op deze kamer, samen -- | in diesem Raum, gemeinsam -- |
| ontruimen we hem. | räumen wir ihn aus. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
The heat that leaked away (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "De warmte die weglekte", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 14th, 1964, Bologna (about the evacuation of mother's house on July 16th, 1957, three months after her death)
Keyword: Life: course (end)
| The compass goes hay- | |
| wire, the sea throws me ashore: | |
| destination reached. | |
| Het kompas draait dol, | |
| de zee smijt mij op de kust: | dreht, das Meer wirft mich an Land: |
| bestemming bereikt. | Reiseziel erreicht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
I'm approaching you: compasses are spinning madly (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik nader je: dol draaien de kompassen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - January 7th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Journey: in the spirit
| You've beautiful clothes, | |
| yet everyone can see what -- | |
| I have wrought in you. | |
| Jouw kleren zijn mooi, | |
| toch is te zien wat ik heb -- | doch sieht man, was ich in dir -- |
| aangericht in jou. | angerichtet hab. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
Your good suits: that's what I see (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Je nette pakken: dat is wat ik zie", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - January 15th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Appearances
| Well, what thoughts can I | |
| formulate in such a way -- | |
| that they will bear fruit? | |
| Welke gedachten | |
| kan ik zo formuleren -- | kann ich so formulieren -- |
| dat ze vrucht dragen? | dass sie Frucht bilden? |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
All time you hit the stone bottom (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Telkens stoot men op de stenen bodem", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - January 21st, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Knowledge: pass on
| Yes, I live, they don't, | |
| or they do not live for me -- | |
| I won't forget them. | |
| Ja, ik leef, en zij | |
| leven niet, of niet voor mij -- | nicht, oder nicht für mich. Ich -- |
| Ik vergeet hen niet. | vergesse sie nicht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
Those who are dead and those who are dead to me (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Wie dood zijn en wie voor mij dood zijn", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - January 28th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Memory: of people
| I was at the old | |
| neighbour's last night, she pointed -- | |
| I watered her plants. | |
| Ik bezocht vannacht | |
| de oude buurvrouw en gaf -- | beim Nachbarn, habe seine -- |
| haar planten water. | Pflanzen gegossen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
Last night I visited (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik bezocht vannacht", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part XI [Deceased]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - January 28th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Help (social)
| My book is botched, so | |
| along the way, a mistake -- | |
| must have been slipped in. | |
| Mijn boek is prutswerk, | |
| dus ergens moet er een fout -- | muss irgendwo ein Fehler -- |
| ingeslopen zijn. | unterlaufen sein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
An error in calculation or construction (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Een fout in berekening of constructie", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - March 17th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Writing: a profession
| The faithful, age-old | |
| histories are powerless -- | |
| as weak as spectres. | |
| De trouwe, oude | |
| verhalen zijn krachteloos -- | Geschichten sind kraftlos, so -- |
| zo slap als spoken. | schlaff wie Gespenster. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
Nothing keeps me company: the many images (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Niets houdt mij gezelschap: de vele beelden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - April 18th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Tradition, Spirit / Ghost(s)
| What the sea washes | |
| up is ballast, not kept for -- | |
| long by anyone. | |
| Wat de zee aanspoelt | , |
| is ballast, wordt door niemand -- | ist Ballast, von niemandem -- |
| langdurig bewaard. | lange aufbewahrt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
What remains when the sea retreats (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Wat achterblijft wanneer de zee zich terugtrekt", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - April 24th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Past: remnants
| Not looking back at | |
| what was evil or good, but -- | |
| moving straight forward. | |
| Niet terugkijken | |
| naar wat kwaad en wat goed was -- | auf das Böse und Gute -- |
| maar recht vooruit gaan. | Nach vorne schauen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
Not to look back, straight ahead (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Niet mogen omzien, recht vooruit", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - April 27th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Future: direction
| Every heavenly | |
| path leads you there and back down -- | |
| into the real world. | |
| Elk hemels pad voert | |
| je heen en terug omlaag -- | Weg führt dich auch wieder hin- |
| weer de wereld in. | unter in die Welt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
As when one descending, suddenly (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Zoals wanneer men dalend, plotseling", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 15th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Heaven / Sky / Hell
| I left, far away | |
| I'm going from view to view -- | |
| never to go back. | |
| Ik ben weggegaan, | |
| ga van uitzicht naar uitzicht -- | von Ausblick zu Ausblick und -- |
| ga niet meer terug. | gehe nicht zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
The day on which one makes a decision (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De dag waarop men een besluit neemt", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 25th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Life: discover / explore
| Keep watch, as soon as | |
| someone grabs you by the throat -- | |
| you'll sound the alarm. | |
| Wacht houden, zodra | |
| iemand je bij de keel grijpt -- | jemand an der Gurgel packt -- |
| meteen alarm slaan. | schlägst du gleich Alarm. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
The sentry, who merely keeps watch, motionless (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De schildwacht, die slechts wacht houdt, onbeweeglijk", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 3rd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Attention: caution
| Knowing that despite | |
| all your hard work, you still haven't -- | |
| made any progress... | |
| Beseffen dat je | |
| ondanks al je gezwoeg niets -- | trotz all seiner Arbeit nichts -- |
| opgeschoten bent... | vorangekommen... |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
Stubbornly rowing against the current (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Koppig tegen de stroom op roeiend", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]) - June 9th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Life: effort, burden, Identity: deeds
| We say goodbye, I'm | |
| leaving, you're staying, and I -- | |
| know where to find you. | |
| We nemen afscheid, | |
| ik ga, jij blijft, ik weet waar -- | gehe, du bleibst, ich weiß, wo -- |
| ik je vinden kan. | ich dich finden kann. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
When we have said goodbye like this (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Als wij zo afscheid hebben genomen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 27th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Goodbye: leaving
| You now live within | |
| dikes that protect you from your -- | |
| own powerlessness. | |
| Jij woont nu binnen | |
| dijken die je beschermen -- | von Deichen, die dich schützen -- |
| tegen je onmacht. | vor deiner Ohnmacht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
Polder (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem, published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 6th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Safety: protection
| The land has been tamed, | |
| has become liveable, bears -- | |
| harvests and villages. | |
| Het land is getemd, | , |
| leefbaar geworden, het draagt -- | bewohnbar geworden, trägt -- |
| oogsten en dorpen. | Ernten und Dörfer. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
The land that was cultivated for centuries, patiently (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Het land dat eeuwen lang bebouwd werd, geduldig", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 13th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Culture: agriculture, livestock
| Would my stories be | |
| solid enough, and is there -- | |
| a blessing on them? | |
| Zijn mijn verhalen | : |
| degelijk genoeg, en rust -- | sind sie solide, liegt ein -- |
| er een zegen op? | Segen auf ihnen? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
How he who carelessly (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Hoe wie onverschillig", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - August 3rd, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Writing: a profession, Muse
| An enemy may | |
| come, so four eyes are ready -- | |
| to sound the alarm. | |
| Er kan een vijand | |
| komen, vier ogen staan klaar -- | bereit, um vor einem Feind -- |
| om alarm te slaan. | Alarm zu schlagen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-02
They stood next to each other behind the stone rampart (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Zij stonden naast elkaar achter de stenen wering", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - October 2nd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Safety: protection
| What we push behind | |
| us piles up, it is blocking -- | |
| our escape route back. | |
| Wat we achter ons | |
| wegduwen hoopt op, blokkeert -- | schieben, häuft sich an, versperrt -- |
| onze terugweg. | uns den Weg zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-02
They only had eyes for what lay before them (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Zij hadden slechts oog voor wat voor hen lag", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - October 5th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Past: remnants, Waste
| Stay vigilant, as | |
| strangers might suddenly be -- | |
| there and surround you. | |
| Blijf waakzaam, vreemden | |
| zouden je zomaar ineens -- | könntest plötzlich von Fremden -- |
| kunnen omringen. | eingeschlossen sein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-02
One resorts to what one has already tried, is never (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Men grijpt naar wat men reeds beproefde, is nooit", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - October 5th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Attention: caution
| Like it or not, you | |
| have to learn all kinds of things, | |
| you have to prepare. | |
| Leuk of niet, je moet | , |
| van alles leren, je moet -- | du musst allerlei lernen, |
| je voorbereiden. | dich vorbereiten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-02
I thought about you: how you were constantly (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik dacht aan je: hoe jij steeds", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - November 11th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Child: evolvement
| There's no one on guard | |
| anymore, but we do close -- | |
| the shutters and doors. | |
| Er staat niemand meer | |
| op wacht, maar wel sluiten we -- | Wache, aber wir schließen -- |
| luiken en deuren. | Läden und Türen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
No one threatened the city anymore; as was the custom (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Niemand bedreigde de stad meer; oudergewoonte", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - November 13th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Uncertainty
| On the mountain I | |
| gathered bags full of nuts, here -- | |
| there are thorn bushes. | |
| Op de berg raapte | |
| ik zakken vol noten, hier -- | Säcke voller Nüsse, hier -- |
| staan er doornstruiken. | gibt's Dornensträucher. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
Where the bushes become so thorny that you can no longer break through them (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Waar de struiken zo doornig worden dat je je er niet meer kunt doorslaan", published in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - November 19th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Life: effort, burden
| My new house is not | |
| finished yet, there are only -- | |
| some walls, high and low. | |
| Mijn huis is niet af, | |
| er staan alleen wat muren -- | fertig, nur ein paar Wände -- |
| hoge en lage. | hohe, niedrige. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
Who builds what is destined for him, meanwhile (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Wie bouwt aan wat voor hem bestemd is, zich intussen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 3rd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Future: direction
| You must get closer | |
| to make out something you can -- | |
| only see dimly. | |
| Je moet dichterbij | |
| komen om wat je vaag ziet -- | etwas, das man nur vage -- |
| te onderscheiden. | sieht, zu erkennen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
The words that answer me (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De woorden die mij antwoorden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 4th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Perception: observation
| Like a mole I dug | |
| up my past, readers, follow -- | |
| me through my tunnels! | |
| Als een mol groef ik | |
| mijn verleden op, lezers -- | ich mein Leben aus, Leser -- |
| graaf mijn gangen na! | folgt meine Tunnel! |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
Anyone who wants to find what I hid here must be prepared (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Wie wil vinden wat ik hier verborg moet bereid zijn", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 10th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Animals: mole, Past: discover
| Since your death, it's me | |
| who decides whether you think -- | |
| I am doing right. | |
| Sinds jouw dood bepaal | |
| ik namens jou of jij vindt -- | scheide ich, ob du denkst, dass -- |
| dat ik het goed doe. | ich richtig handle. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
- Is this okay with you? - I'm asking you now (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "- Vind je het goed zo? - Ik vraag het je nu", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 16th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Memory: of someone
| In my writings I | |
| am with you again, as long -- | |
| as I reread them. | |
| In mijn teksten ben | |
| ik bij jou, zijn we samen -- | bin ich bei dir, solange -- |
| zolang ik ze lees. | ich sie nachlese. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
I wanted to talk to you (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik wou met je praten", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 23rd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Missing: loved one(s)
| I don't want to tell | |
| any epic, just stories -- | |
| about my own life. | |
| Ik wil geen epos | , |
| vertellen, maar verhalen -- | sondern meine eigene -- |
| over mijn leven. | Geschichte schreiben. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
No work (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Geen werk", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 26th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Writing: for attention
| My diaries are | |
| maps and signposts for any- | |
| one who explores me. | |
| Mijn dagboeken zijn | : |
| landkaarten en wegwijzers -- | Karten und Wegweiser, um -- |
| voor wie mij verkent. | mich zu erkunden. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
Trying (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse, published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 31st, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Writing: for attention
| I can't fall asleep, | |
| and you don't sleep either, you'll -- | |
| never sleep again. | |
| Ik kan niet slapen, | , |
| jij ligt stil en slaapt ook niet -- | und auch du schläfst nicht, du wirst -- |
| zult nooit meer slapen. | nie wieder schlafen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
Your life, those days when you were no longer alive (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Je leven, die dagen dat je niet meer leefde", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - March 11th, 1966, Bologna (about March 6-11th, 1957, the days after her mother's death)
Keyword: Goodbye: dying / death
| Liquidly, I walk | |
| in the fluctuating light -- | |
| of the waterways. | |
| Vloeibaar loop ik rond | |
| in het bewegende licht -- | herum im bewegten Licht -- |
| van de waterstad. | der Wasserwege. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
The moving of water (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Het bewegen van water", published in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009, Frida Vogels) - June 1st, 1966, Bologna
Keywords: Feelings (undergo), Amsterdam, Venezia
| In my diary | |
| I let go of what is fresh -- | |
| to keep hold of it. | |
| In mijn dagboek laat | |
| ik los wat nog vers is, om -- | ich los, was noch frisch ist, um -- |
| het vast te houden. | es festzuhalten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
How one, in leaving (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Hoe men, het verlatend", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - June 22nd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Writing: preserve
| I know it here, though | |
| it does look different, but -- | |
| my dream knows the way. | |
| Ik ken het hier, al | |
| ziet het er anders uit, maar -- | wenn es anders aussieht, doch -- |
| mijn droom weet de weg. | mein Traum kennt den Weg. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
The dreams that bring back what was (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "De dromen die wat was terugbrengen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - July 3rd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Dream(s)
| Just in time I turn | |
| the wheel, only that abyss -- | |
| where does it come from? | |
| Net op tijd gooi ik | |
| het stuur om, maar die afgrond -- | das Lenkrad, aber woher -- |
| waar komt die vandaan? | kommt dieser Abgrund? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
The swerve (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De zwenking", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence], and in "Diary 1964-1965" - July 15th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Fear: bad dream
| Again and again | |
| the baneling draws the borders -- | |
| he desires to cross. | |
| Telkens opnieuw trekt | |
| de banneling de grenzen -- | der Verbannte die Grenzen -- |
| die hij over wil. | die er vorbei will. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
A baneling (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Een banneling", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", 1994, Frida Vogels, part VII [Acquiescence]), in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009), and in the autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken" ("In foreign parts - Chronicles", 2024, Frida Vogels), chapter 'Een vriendin in Rome' (A friend a Rome) - August 30th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Alone: separated
| After crying out | |
| in my own arm I get up -- | |
| and rebuild the world. | |
| Na het uithuilen | |
| sta ik op en dan bouw ik -- | stehe ich auf und baue -- |
| de wereld weer op. | die Welt wieder auf. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
A baneling (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Een banneling", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", 1994, Frida Vogels, part VII [Acquiescence]), in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009), and in the autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken" ("In foreign parts - Chronicles", 2024, Frida Vogels), chapter 'Een vriendin in Rome' (A friend a Rome) - August 30th, 1966, Bologna
Keywords: Sadness: process, Life: lust (impulse)
| I dig up remnants | |
| of my life, to hold on to -- | |
| That's how it was then! | |
| Ik graaf resten op | |
| van mijn leven, als houvast -- | reste meines Lebens aus -- |
| Ja, zo was het toen! | So war es damals! |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
Lives are not beautiful or complete (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Levens zijn niet mooi of afgerond", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - September 15th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Memory: of one's life
| The duel begins | |
| and ends face to face with their -- | |
| mutual respect. | |
| De tweekamp begint | |
| en eindigt oog in oog met -- | endet Auge in Auge -- |
| wederzijds respect. | mit beider Respekt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
How they, face to face (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Hoe zij, oog in oog", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - September 18th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: War: fight
| Not daring to cross | |
| the border, peering, afraid -- | |
| of something brusque. | |
| De grens niet over | |
| durven, schichtig loeren, bang -- | überschreiten, ängstlich für -- |
| voor iets onverhoeds. | etwas aus dem Nichts. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
Walking back and forth at the borders of one's territory (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Heen en weer lopen aan de grenzen van zijn gebied", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - October 3rd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Fear: vague
| Bells are ringing, I'm | |
| walking through snow and dead wood -- | |
| and the evening falls. | |
| Er luiden klokken, | , |
| ik loop door sneeuw en dood hout -- | ich geh durch Schnee und Totholz -- |
| en het wordt donker. | und es wird dunkel. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
Walking through the snow in the dark, while bells ring far away (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Een tocht door de sneeuw in het donker, terwijl ver weg klokken luiden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - November 1st, 1966, Bologna
Keywords: Nature: trees, forest, Snow
| Memories have to | |
| be visited, otherwise -- | |
| they will fall apart. | |
| Herinneringen | |
| moet je bezoeken, anders -- | muss man öfter besuchen -- |
| vallen ze uiteen. | sonst zerfallen sie. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
The memories build (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "De herinneringen bouwen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - December 6th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Memory: forget
| Criss-cross paths, the same | |
| bramble-bush again, and you -- | |
| still untraceable. | |
| Kriskraspaden, weer | |
| dezelfde braamstruik, en jij -- | Brombeerstrauch, und du immer -- |
| nog steeds onvindbaar. | noch unauffindbar. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-10
Endlessly tangled criss-cross paths (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Eindeloos verwarde kriskraspaden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part VI, Kees]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 8th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Love: effort / pain
| I am close to you, | |
| look at the compass needles: | |
| they're spinning around. | |
| Ik ben dicht bij jou, | |
| kijk maar, de kompasnaalden -- | dir, schau, die Kompassnadeln -- |
| tollen in het rond. | drehen sich wie wild. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-14
I'm approaching you: compasses are spinning madly (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik nader je: dol draaien de kompassen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part VI, Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - January 7th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Contact: closeness
| Thinking of us, back | |
| then, the chairs, the round table -- | |
| I lose it again. | |
| Denkend aan ons, toen, | , |
| de stoelen, het tafeltje -- | die Stühle, den Tisch, geht es -- |
| verlies ik het weer. | wieder verloren. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-20
I wanted to talk to you (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik wou met je praten", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part V, Mother], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 23rd, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Memory: volatile, Missing: deceased
| Together we went | |
| further than we intended: | |
| beyond our friendship. | |
| Samen gingen we | |
| verder dan we bedoelden: | wir gewollt hatten, über -- |
| de vriendschap voorbij. | die Freundschaft hinaus. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
You're my enemy, aren't you? - Turned bitter (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Je bent mijn vijand, is 't niet? - Bitter geworden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part VI, Kees], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - February 20th, 1966, Bologna
Keywords: Friendship: over, Family: siblings
| Then you locked the door, | |
| I stood there desperately -- | |
| at night by the gate. | |
| Toen sloot je de deur, | |
| wanhopig stond ik daar maar -- | verschlossen, verzweifelt stand -- |
| 's avonds bij het hek. | ich da, nachts am Tor. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
A wrong train of thought (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Een verkeerde gedachtengang", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - April 12th, 1964, Amsterdam (about the joint holiday in Brittany in 1954)
Keyword: Sadness: suffer
| Rarely anyone | |
| comes to the old house, tearing -- | |
| apart from neglect. | |
| In het oude huis | |
| komt zelden iemand, het scheurt -- | kommt kaum jemand, es reißt, aus -- |
| van verwaarlozing. | Vernachlässigung. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
Subsiding, becoming dilapidated (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Verzakken, bouwvallig worden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 8th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Old age: ailments / defects
| I wander around, | |
| passing the same witnesses -- | |
| and you are nowhere. | |
| Langs steeds dezelfde | |
| getuigen dwaal ik hier rond -- | denselben Zeugen vorbei: |
| en jij bent nergens. | du bist nirgendwo. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
Endlessly tangled crisscross paths (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Eindeloos verwarde kriskraspaden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 8th, 1964, Bologna
Keywords: Missing: loved one(s), Stray
| Blaming each other | |
| does never free anyone -- | |
| from self-righteousness. | |
| Elkaar verwijten | |
| maken verlost niemand uit -- | befreien niemanden von -- |
| zijn eigen gelijk. | Selbstgerechtigkeit. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
You detach from me that easily (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Dialogue "Zo gemakkelijk maak je je van me los", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 19th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Together: discord
| I do what feels right, | |
| even if I swim into -- | |
| an obvious trap. | |
| Ik dwing me te doen | |
| wat juist voelt, ook al zwem ik -- | gut anfühlt, auch wenn es in -- |
| daarbij een fuik in. | eine Reuse geht. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
Forcing yourself to (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Zich dwingen tot", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 3rd, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Ethics: conscience
| You don't know how to | |
| do it differently, so you -- | |
| go on, stubbornly. | |
| Je wilt het anders, | |
| maar weet niet hoe, dus ga je -- | es anders tun soll und macht -- |
| maar verder, koppig. | einfach stur weiter. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-28
You're living below your level (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Je leeft onder je maat", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 8th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Life: course (on the way)
| Your breaking up with | |
| me blocks me, it even blocks -- | |
| any thoughts of you. | |
| Dat jij brak met mij, | |
| blokkeert mij, het blokkeert zelfs -- | mir blockiert mich, sogar die -- |
| gedachten aan jou. | Gedanken an dich. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
I cannot write you a letter, not expect one from you (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Geen brief kan ik je schrijven, geen van jou verwachten", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 3rd, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Distance / Detachment
| Moses fervently | |
| believed in the promise, oh -- | |
| the disappointment! | |
| Mozes geloofde | |
| vurig in de belofte -- | stark an die Verheißung, oh -- |
| O, ontgoocheling! | welche Enttäuschung! |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
She had a soft spot for Moses (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Zij had een zwak voor Mozes", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 2nd, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Religion: promise
| Isn't it a spoiled life: | |
| picking flowers on the edge -- | |
| of the precipice? | |
| Een verwend leven: | |
| bloemen plukken aan de rand -- | Leben: Blumen pflücken am -- |
| van de steile klif. | Rande der Klippe. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-30
A rich life (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Een rijk leven", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008), in "Diary 1977-1978" (2014), and in the autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken" ("In foreign parts - Chronicles", 2024), chapter 'Brief aan Ayaan Hirsi Ali' ('Letter to Ayaan Hirsi Ali' - End of 2006, Amsterdam) - March 29th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Art (profession), Writing: seclusion
| I lost you, it was | |
| already getting dark and -- | |
| I was far from home. | |
| Ik raakte jou kwijt, | , |
| en het ging al schemeren -- | ich war ohne dich und weit -- |
| Ik was ver van huis. | weg von zu Hause. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
You who were always there when I looked for you (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Jij die als ik je zocht er altijd was", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - May 6th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Alone: separated, Missing: absence
| Things will be okay | |
| with us, you think, because you -- | |
| are the stronger one. | |
| Het zal goed komen | |
| tussen ons, denk jij, want jij -- | zwischen uns, denkst du, weil du -- |
| bent de sterkere. | der Stärkere bist. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
You refuse the fight I'm a master of (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Je weigert de strijd waar ik meester in ben", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - Maye 13th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Manly (dominance)
| We come closer to | |
| each other, then see too big -- | |
| the gap between us. | |
| Wij komen elkaar | |
| nader, zien dan tussen ons -- | bemerken dann zwischen uns -- |
| de te grote kloof. | die zu große Kluft. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
The centre of gravity that lies between two (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Het zwaartepunt dat tussen twee ligt", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 21st, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Distance / Detachment
| Even though nothing | |
| divides us, we still turn our -- | |
| backs on each other. | |
| Al is er niets wat | |
| ons verdeelt, toch keren wij -- | trennt, kehren wir uns immer -- |
| elkaar de rug toe. | noch den Rücken zu. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-31
They belonged together; what divided them (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Zij hoorden bij elkaar; wat hen verdeelde", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 21st, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Distance / Detachment
| So that you can hear, | |
| I am writing you loudly -- | |
| since you don't look up. | |
| Opdat jij me hoort | , |
| schrijf ik jou luidkeels een brief -- | schreib ich dir laut einen Brief -- |
| want je kijkt niet op. | denn du schaust nicht auf. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
I can't write like I speak (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Ik kan niet schrijven zoals ik spreek", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - June 22nd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Attention: attract
| Nowhere safe for long, | |
| together night and day, out -- | |
| of fright after fright. | |
| Nergens lang veilig, | , |
| dag en nacht van schrik op schrik -- | aus Schreck nach Schreck Tag und Nacht -- |
| bij elkaar blijven. | zusammenbleiben. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
The animals living on in uncounted troops (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De dieren die in ongetelde troepen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 3rd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Fear: insecurity
| I am powerless, | |
| I have no defence, only -- | |
| the clothes on my back. | |
| Ik ben machteloos, | , |
| ik heb geen verdediging -- | keine Verteidigung, nur -- |
| slechts mijn vege lijf. | das nackte Leben. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
The citadel (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De citadel", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 22nd, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Powerlessness (flight)
| Taking the wrong path | |
| and then continuing on -- | |
| where there is no path. | |
| De verkeerde weg | |
| nemen en dan doorlopen -- | weitergehen, obwohl es -- |
| waar geen pad meer is. | keinen Weg mehr gibt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-02
Choosing wrongly, loosing one's way (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Verkeerd kiezen, zich in de weg vergissen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - September 27th, 1965, Bologna
Keywords: Stupidity, Life: discover / explore
| He just can't keep up | |
| the wait and sneaks out of town -- | |
| the spineless traitor. | |
| Hij houdt het wachten | |
| niet vol en sluipt de stad uit -- | zu schwer, er schleicht sich davon -- |
| als de verrader. | als der Verräter. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
The betrayal lured him (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Het verraad lokte hem", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - November 18th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Betrayal
| I am rebuilding | |
| the city that banished me -- | |
| Is this a good place? | |
| Ik bouw de stad na, | |
| waaruit ik verdreven werd -- | nach, die mich vertrieben hat -- |
| Is deze plek goed? | Ist dieser Ort gut? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
Elsewhere, they are building the city that, stone by stone (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Elders, bouwt men de stad op, die steen voor steen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 25th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Safety: flight
| I long for a house | |
| of my own, but tired I fall -- | |
| asleep as a guest. | |
| In een eigen huis | |
| wil ik wonen, maar vermoeid -- | Zuhause, schlafe aber -- |
| slaap ik in als gast. | müde ein als Gast. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-03
Avoiding the place where others have already settled (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De plaats vermijden waar anderen zich reeds vestigden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - December 25th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Foreigners: guest
| Slowly rotting is | |
| not for me, I will simply -- | |
| reject any straws. | |
| Langzaam wegrotten | |
| is niets voor mij, strohalmen -- | ist nichts für mich, Strohhalme -- |
| zal ik afwijzen. | weise ich zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
I hope to die when I'm still strong (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik hoop te sterven als ik nog sterk ben", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 3rd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Death: dying
| You walk ahead of me, | |
| even though you are not there. | |
| I walk all alone. | |
| Je loopt voor me uit | , |
| al ben je er niet, ik loop -- | obwohl du nicht da bist, ich -- |
| moederziel alleen. | gehe ganz allein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
The horrors of that day (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "De verschrikkingen van die dag", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 11th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Alone: separated
| What does not rot dries | |
| out with ageing, becoming -- | |
| harder and harder. | |
| Wat niet wegrot, droogt | , |
| uit bij het ouder worden -- | trocknet aus mit dem Alter, |
| en wordt steeds harder. | wird immer härter. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
How one, struck by the worst (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Hoe men, door het ergste getroffen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 12th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Old age: process
| I'm not a failure, | |
| and I will even exceed -- | |
| her expectations. | |
| Ik ben niet mislukt, | , |
| ik zal haar verwachtingen -- | werde die Erwartungen -- |
| gaan overtreffen. | ja übertreffen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
Out of uncertainty (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Uit onzekerheid", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 24th, 1966, Bologna
Keywords: Ambition, Hero(ine)
| I'm still being called | |
| to account for the effect -- | |
| I have had on you. | |
| Nog steeds rekenschap | |
| afleggen voor het effect -- | noch, für die Wirkung, die ich -- |
| dat ik op jou had? | mal auf dich hatte? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
You're my enemy, aren't you? - Turned bitter (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Je bent mijn vijand, is 't niet? - Bitter geworden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - February 20th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Ethics: karma
| Was there a sentence | |
| carried out? Not by us, but -- | |
| perhaps upon us? | |
| Werd er een vonnis | |
| voltrokken? Niet door ons, maar -- | vollstreckt? Nicht von uns, aber -- |
| misschien over ons? | dann vielleicht an uns? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
The little horses that galloped across the beach (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida, Shakespeare, William
Poem "De paardjes die over het strand galoppeerden", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees] - June 7th, 1966, Bologna (her brother Kees's birthday)
Tragedy "The tragicall historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke" (1599-1602, William Shakespeare) - Where's Polonius? At supper. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten.
Keyword: Judgement
| As I write, I go | |
| from pillar to post, briefly -- | |
| visiting my friends. | |
| Al schrijvend reis ik | |
| van hot naar her, bezoek ik -- | hin und her und besuche -- |
| vluchtig mijn vrienden. | kurz meine Freunde. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
I visit people who live miles away (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik leg bezoeken af bij wie mijlen ver wonen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - June 10th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Writing: attuning
| Wanting to shelter | |
| together again in that -- | |
| draughty room of ours. | |
| Weer samen willen | |
| schuilen in dat tochtige -- | Schutz zu finden in diesem -- |
| kamertje van ons. | zugigen Zimmer. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
Back to a privacy (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Terug naar een beslotenheid", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part V [Mother], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - June 22nd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Safety: security / comfort
| From the discarded | |
| past, some mute shards still stick up -- | |
| in the arable. | |
| Van vroeger steken | |
| er in het bewerkte land -- | aus der Vergangenheit noch -- |
| wat scherven omhoog. | einige Scherben. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
The past that was given for better (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Het verleden dat men voor beter gaf", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - July 27th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Past: remnants
| Not fighting back, just | |
| parry and keep eating when- | |
| ever there is food. | |
| Niet terugvechten, | |
| alleen afweren: eten -- | abwehren: weiter essen -- |
| als er eten is. | wenn es Essen gibt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-05
How one takes the blows: not defending (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Hoe men de slagen opvangt: zich niet verweert", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - August 4th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Care: body
| Did we do something | |
| wrong? The soldiers have left us -- | |
| What might await us? | |
| Deden we iets fout? | |
| De soldaten zijn weg, wat -- | Soldaten unser Fehler? |
| staat ons te wachten? | Was erwartet uns? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
He who is abandoned is to blame, he who finds himself alone one morning (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Wie verlaten wordt treft schuld, wie zich op een morgen alleen ziet", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - August 28th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Fear: threat
| The people look at | |
| the beggars, one of them could -- | |
| be God's messenger. | |
| Mensen bekijken | , |
| de bedelaars, een van hen -- | einer von ihnen könnte -- |
| kan Gods gezant zijn. | Gottes Bote sein. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
The are looking forward to the Messiah (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Zij zien uit naar de Messias", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - September 24th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Religion: allmightiness
| What role might my friends | |
| have played then in the ending -- | |
| of your bond with me? | |
| Welke rol speelden | |
| mijn vrienden in het einde -- | meiner Freunde beim Ende -- |
| van jouw band met mij? | unserer Bindung? |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
Wounded by my doing / I never knew (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Gewond door mijn toedoen" / "Nooit heb ik geweten", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - September 26th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Friendship: over
| How I would love to | |
| trample down the apparent -- | |
| realness of my dreams! | |
| Wat zou ik de schijn- | |
| werkelijkheid van dromen -- | ich die Scheinwirklichkeit von -- |
| graag kapot stampen! | Träumen zerstampfen! |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-06
In dreams there is not what has been (Frida Vogels)
1994 Vogels, Frida
Verse "In dromen is er niet wat er geweest is", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - December 8th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Dream(s)
| Publishing quickly | |
| becomes vanity, a waste -- | |
| of ink and paper. | |
| Publiceren is | |
| al gauw ijdelheid, zonde -- | leicht zur Eitelkeit, schade -- |
| van inkt en papier. | auch um das Papier. |
Amsterdam, 2026-02-05
Interview
1996 Voskuil, Han
Interview with Ton Dekker in Vrij Nederland (November 23rd, 1996), in which he talks about the work in the Department of Folklife Studies in "The Office"
Keyword: Prestige: conceit
| In despair I look | |
| at the wall, turn off the light, | |
| open the window. | |
| Wanhopig kijk ik | |
| naar de muur, doe het licht uit -- | zur Wand, schalte das Licht aus, |
| en open het raam. | öffne das Fenster. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-10
Found unworthy - I passed the judgement myself (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Onwaardig bevonden - ik heb zelf het oordeel geveld", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - May 27th, 1964, Bologna
In desperation, opening up to the world
Keyword: Depression (despair)
| Backward or forward: | |
| both away from my object -- | |
| On this false track. | |
| Terug of verder: | |
| allebei weg van mijn doel -- | führt mich von meinem Ziel weg -- |
| Op dit valse spoor. | Auf diesem Irrweg. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-10
A false trail (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Een vals spoor", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - June 23rd, 1964, Bologna
Keywords: Future: direction, Writing: a profession
| Remembering all | |
| of it: the bends, shadows, thorns -- | |
| and my exhaustion. | |
| Alles onthouden: | : |
| bochten, schaduwen, doornen -- | Kurven, Schatten, Dornen, und -- |
| en mijn vermoeidheid. | meine Müdigkeit. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-12
You must not forget anything about the path you have travelled (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Niets mag je vergeten van de afgelegde weg", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - June 24th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Memory: of one's life
| Portrait in profile: | |
| you follow your own thoughts and -- | |
| you don't look at me. | |
| Portret en profil: | : |
| jij volgt eigen gedachten -- | du folgst deinen Gedanken -- |
| en kijkt niet naar mij. | und schaust mich nicht an. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-14
Two portraits, one en face, one en profil (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Twee portretten, een en face, een en profil", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - March 5th, 1965, Bologna (about Kees)
Keyword: Perception: observation
| Not to be caught, I | |
| hurry through the street: I'm not -- | |
| going anywhere. | |
| Haastig de straat door, | , |
| bang om betrapt te worden: | aus Angst, erwischt zu werden: |
| ik hoef nergens heen. | ich muss nirgends hin. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-15
The village where you lived as a little child (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Het dorp waar je als klein kind woonde", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - May 8th, 1965, Parma
Keyword: Alone: loner / single
| To watch an ear and | |
| describe it precisely: that -- | |
| would be masterly! | |
| Een oor bekijken | |
| en precies beschrijven: dat -- | es haarscharf beschreiben: das -- |
| zou meesterlijk zijn! | wäre meisterhaft! |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-20
Diary 1964-1965 (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1964-1965" - October 31st, 1965, Bologna (Frida quotes Bert Weijde)
Keywords: Language: notions, Writing: a profession
| Pulling one thought loose, | |
| I get other ones with it -- | |
| That's my poetry. | |
| Eén gedachte los- | |
| trekkend, krijg ik er meer mee -- | lösen: weitere folgen. |
| Zo'n dichter ben ik. | Meine Poesie. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-20
Diary 1964-1965 (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1964-1965" - December 26th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Thinking (associations)
| I sit in her chair | |
| and I touch everything that -- | |
| belonged to mother. | |
| Ik zit in haar stoel | |
| en raak alles aan, alles -- | und berühre alles, was -- |
| dat van moeder was. | Mutter gehörte. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-10
I carefully, silently (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Ik nam voorzichtig, onhoorbaar", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - May 9th, 1964, Bologna
Mother's things, now in her brother's house (or thrown away by him)
Keyword: Memory: of someone
| His feathers are hooked, | |
| he pries himself loose, and isn't -- | |
| a bird anymore. | |
| Zijn veren blijven | |
| haken, hij wrikt zich los, en -- | verhakt, er reißt sich los, und -- |
| is geen vogel meer. | ist kein Vogel mehr. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-12
His feathers got caught in the bow (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Zijn veren bleven haken in de strik", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - July 17th, 1964, Bologna (about Ennio)
Keywords: Flying: bird, bird of prey, Freedom: fight for
| I build you a town, | |
| hoping that my stones will be -- | |
| able to bear you. | |
| Ik bouw aan een stad | |
| voor jou, alsof mijn stenen -- | Stadt, als ob meine Steine -- |
| jou kunnen dragen. | dich tragen könnten. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-12
I build the cities where you can come (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik bouw de steden waar jij komen kunt", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - July 24th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Home: loved one(s)
| The friendships we have, | |
| with people like ourselves, are -- | |
| decent alibis. | |
| Onze vriendschappen, | |
| met mensen zoals wijzelf: | wie uns befreundet, es sind -- |
| nette alibi's. | gute Alibis. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-14
Diary 1964-1965 (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1964-1965" - January 17th, 1965, Bologna
Keyword: Friendship: help
| He notices he's | |
| getting too close again, and -- | |
| recoils in his shell. | |
| Hij merkt dat hij weer | |
| te dichtbij komt, en schrikt dan -- | nahe kommt und zuckt zurück -- |
| terug in zijn schulp. | in sein Schneckenhaus. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-15
Diary 1964-1965 (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1964-1965" - April 26th, 1965, Bologna (about the beginning of her relationship with Ennio, December 1954 in Milan)
Keyword: In love: exploration
| I have lost your trail, | |
| it has been trampled for years -- | |
| by my many steps. | |
| Ik ben jouw spoor kwijt, | |
| het is jarenlang vertrapt -- | jahrelang zertrampelt von -- |
| door al mijn stappen. | all meinen Schritten. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
I rarely can get out and look for you (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Ik kan maar zelden uitgaan om je te zoeken", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - September 7th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Distance / Detachment
| I wait anxiously. | |
| Where could you be wandering? | |
| Don't you dare come home? | |
| Bezorgd wacht ik af. | |
| Waar zwerf je toch rond? Durf je -- | du nur umher? Traust du dich -- |
| niet thuis te komen? | nicht, Heim zu kommen? |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-29
While you're wandering around defenceless somewhere (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Terwijl jij weerloos ergens rondzwerft", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VI [Kees], and in "Diary 1964-1965" - September 8th, 1964, Bologna
Keyword: Waiting (longing)
| My house is alive, | |
| it wants to unfold and grow -- | |
| it gives me no rest. | |
| Mijn huis leeft, het wil | |
| zich ontplooien, uitgroeien -- | sich entfalten, wachsen, lässt -- |
| en geeft mij geen rust. | mich keine Ruhe. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-02
Someone who for the construction of a hut (Frida Vogels)
2008 Vogels, Frida
Poem "Wie om een hut te bouwen", published in "Diary 1964-1965" - August 17th, 1965, San Severo
Keyword: Safety: home
| I write down my doubts | |
| in unsent letters, perhaps -- | |
| letters to myself. | |
| Ik schrijf mijn twijfels | |
| in onverstuurde brieven -- | Zweifel in Briefen nieder -- |
| misschien aan mezelf. | vielleicht an mich selbst. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - February 24th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Doubt
| End of the journey. | |
| Now I plant my flag, it stands -- | |
| till we perish here. | |
| De reis is voorbij. | |
| Nu plant ik mijn vlag, hij staat -- | ich meine Fahne, sie steht -- |
| tot we hier vergaan. | bis wir verwesen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
How he who, at the place where he arrived (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
Verse "Hoe wie op de plaats waar hij aankwam", published in "Diary 1966-1967" - May 23rd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Home: security / comfort
| The wind blows rain on | |
| Saint Mark's Square, into the flags -- | |
| and tears a strip off. | |
| De wind waait regen | |
| op het plein, in de vlaggen -- | auf den Platz, in die Fahnen -- |
| Er scheurt een reep af. | Ein Streifen reißt ab. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - June 2nd, 1966, Bologna
About Venice
Keywords: City (junction), Italy, Wind
| Throwing things away | |
| is wrong! I happily store -- | |
| things of no value. | |
| Weggooien is erg! | ! |
| Ik bewaar met genoegen -- | Ich lege gerne etwas -- |
| iets zonder waarde. | Wertloses zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - July 7th, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Possessions (stuff)
| Do I still feel like | |
| starting something new if it -- | |
| won't last anyway? | |
| Heb ik nog wel zin | , |
| om aan iets te beginnen -- | etwas anzufangen, wenn -- |
| dat niet duren zal? | es nicht dauern wird? |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - April 27th, 1966, Amsterdam
Keyword: Temporality
| If no one takes up | |
| what you write, you explain it -- | |
| in another book. | |
| Als niemand begrijpt | , |
| wat je schrijft, leg je het uit -- | was du schreibst, erklärst du es -- |
| in een volgend boek. | in noch einem Buch. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - April 28th, 1966, Amsterdam
Keywords: Communication (sending), Writing: expression
| The path does not go | |
| as we thought, we're getting lost -- | |
| in compromises. | |
| Het pad loopt anders | |
| dan gedacht, we verdwalen -- | ab, und wir verlieren uns -- |
| in compromissen. | in Kompromissen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - May 4th, 1966, Amsterdam
Walk through the polder and the dunes
Keyword: Future: direction
| I leave a little | |
| of the food I was given -- | |
| Yes, it is tasty! | |
| Ik laat wat over | |
| van het eten op mijn bord -- | Essen auf meinem Teller -- |
| Ja, het is lekker! | Ja, es ist lecker! |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - August 19th, 1966, San Severo
Keywords: Hospitality, Habits / Customs
| Their house is filled up, | |
| richly furnished, with a nook -- | |
| where they bivouac. | |
| Hun huis is vol, rijk | |
| ingericht, met een hoekje -- | möbliert, mit einer Ecke -- |
| waar ze kamperen. | wo sie kampieren. |
Amsterdam, 2017-12-01
Diary 1966-1967 (Frida Vogels)
2009 Vogels, Frida
"Dagboek 1966-1967" - September 23rd, 1966, Bologna
Keyword: Home: security / comfort
