A beautiful book
has something mysterious --
to be discovered.
Een mooi boek bevat	Ein schönes Buch ist
iets mysterieus dat je --	geheimnisvoll, hat etwas --
nog moet ontdekken.	um zu entdecken.

Poem H6410
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-03
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "One Hundred Years of Solitude", named after the novel "Cien años de soledad" (1967, Gabriel García Márquez)
Collection: Truder
Keywords: Life: discover / explore, Culture: heritage 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

I read, had nothing,
like Job, and like Odysseus --
I could not go home.
Ik las. Ik had niets,	Ich las, hatte nichts,
zoals Job, kon niet naar huis,	wie Job, war wie Odysseus --
zoals Odysseus.	fern von zu Hause.

Poem H6409
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-03
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The Book of Job - Jabalia"
Collection: Truder
Keywords: Stories: exemplary, Bible 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

Yellow smoke and then
the vibrations, the muffled --
humming of the tanks.
Na de gele rook:	Der gelbe Rauch, die
de trillingen, het doffe --	Vibrationen, das dumpfe --
gebrom van de tanks.	Summen der Panzer.

Poem S3251
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-03
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "If This Is a Man", named after the book "Se questo è un uomo" (1958, Primo Levi)
Collection: Truder
Keywords: Violence: annihilation, Palestina, Colonialism 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

They resist, hold back
their anger, breathe bitterness --
and unfounded hope.
Ze verzetten zich,	Sie versetzen sich,
ademen verbittering --	atmen Verbitterung und --
en ijdele hoop.	nutzlose Hoffnung.

Poem S3250
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-02
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The legend of the ages - Aqabat Jaber" (near Jericho)
Collection: Truder
Keywords: Resistance, Palestina, War: trauma 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

Malnourished and sick
in the tent camp full of dust --
that covers our dreams.
Ondervoed en ziek	Unterernährt, krank,
in het tentenkamp vol stof --	im Zeltlager voller Staub --
dat dromen bedekt.	der Träume bedeckt.

Poem S3249
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-02
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The legend of the ages - Aqabat Jaber" (near Jericho)
Collection: Truder
Keywords: War: daily life, Palestina, War: trauma 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

It is quiet. Time
stagnates, we must wait, knowing --
that it will not pass.
De stilte. De tijd	Die Stille. Die Zeit
stagneert, we wachten, weten:	stagniert, wir warten, wissen:
het gaat niet voorbij.	es geht nicht vorbei.

Poem S3248
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-02
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The legend of the ages - Aqabat Jaber" (near Jericho)
Collection: Truder
Keywords: Silence (danger), Palestina, Calm: standstill 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

Having fled without
anything, with only keys --
to our house (destroyed).
Gevlucht zonder iets,	Geflohen, nur mit
met alleen maar de sleutels --	den Schlüsseln zu unserem --
van ons huis (vernield).	Haus (völlig zerstört).

Poem S3247
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-02
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The earth is too tight for us - Balad al-Sheikh"
About the Nakba ("Catastrophe") in 1948
Collection: Truder
Keywords: War: flight, Palestina, Home: displaced 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

Life goes on: even
in the ruins you can see --
serving trays of tea.
Het leven gaat door:	Die Menschen leben:
ook in ruïnes zie je --	selbst in den Ruinen gibt --
dienbladen met thee.	es Tabletts mit Tee.

Poem H6408
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-02
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The meeting"
Collection: Truder
Keywords: War: daily life, Palestina, Life: lust (take pains) 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid 

Gaping rooms after
the bomb attack, a blue door --
remains, undamaged.
Gapende kamers	Gähnende Räume
na de bom, een blauwe deur --	nach der Bombe, eine Tür --
nog ongeschonden.	noch unbeschädigt.

Poem S3245
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-02
The man who read books (Rachid Benzine) - 2025
Novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres", chapter "The meeting"
Collection: Truder
Keywords: Violence: annihilation, Palestina, Home: displaced 
Tribute to: Benzine, Rachid