There stands a rock here,

the Queen; the King has fallen --


into the breakers.


Er staat hier een rots,Hier steht ein Felsen,
de Koningin; de Koning --die Königin; der König --

is in zee gestort.ist eingefallen.

Poem H6248
Amsterdam, 2026-05-13
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1991
Novel, chapter 12 - June 15th, 1859 (Flamborough, south of Scarborough)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1990-1999
Keywords: Sea, Nature: landscape 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


In this mirror, I

look like a movie version --


of my grandfather.


In deze spiegelIm Spiegel seh ich
lijk ik op een filmversie --aus wie eine Filmversion --

van mijn grootvader.meines Großvaters.

Poem H6324
Amsterdam, 2026-06-19
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 28
Collection: Wean Di
Keywords: Mirror, Family: grandma / grandpa 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


The first wedding nights:

his hand, the animal scent --


so overwhelming.


De eerste nachten:Die ersten Nächte:
zijn hand, de dierlijke geur --sein animalischer Duft --

overweldigend.überwältigend.

Poem H6323
Amsterdam, 2026-06-19
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 25
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1990-1999
Keyword: Love: intimacy (physical) 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


We discussed it, at

length and seriously, between --


many silences.


We bespraken het,Wir diskutierten
langdurig en serieus --es ausführlich und ernsthaft --

tussen veel stiltes.in vielen Pausen.

Poem H6322
Amsterdam, 2026-06-19
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 24
Collection: SoulSenseSun
Keywords: Communication (conversation), Silence (pause) 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


I do want to write

poems and I make a start --


with lists, lists of words.


Ik wil gedichtenUm Gedichte zu
schrijven en maak een begin:schreiben, beginne ich mit --

lijstjes van woorden.Listen von Wörtern.

Poem H6321
Amsterdam, 2026-06-19
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapters 24, 26
Collection: Whirligig Scribbler
Keywords: Writing: a profession, Exercise / Training 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Eating seafood: not

that much meat, but a plate full --


of shells, heads, and legs.


Zeedieren eten:Hummer: nur wenig
niet veel vlees, maar een bord vol --Fleisch, und ein Teller voller --

schalen en poten.Schalen und Beine.

Poem S3180
Amsterdam, 2026-06-18
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 23
Collection: Thinkles Lusionless
Keyword: Animals: lobster / crab 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


We are given tongs

for the shellfish, like those used --


by a torturer.


Voor de schaaldierenDie Zangen für die
krijgen we tangen, zoals --Schalentiere sehen aus --

voor een marteling.wie Folterzangen.

Poem S3179
Amsterdam, 2026-06-18
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 23
Collection: Thinkles Lusionless
Keyword: Animals: lobster / crab 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Make-up for TV,

make-up for a funeral:


a semblance of life.


Make-up voor tv,Make-up, von einer
of voor een begrafenis:Leiche, fürs Fernsehen: ein --

een schijn van leven.Anschein von Leben.

Poem H6320
Amsterdam, 2026-06-18
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 20
The care of masking an unhealthy appearance

Collection: Appearances
Keyword: Identity: appearance 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Merlin is wise: he

is his own master, that is --


his magic power.


Merlijn is wijs: hijMerlin ist weise:
is zijn eigen meester, dat --sein eigener Herr, das ist --

is zijn toverkracht.seine Zauberkraft.

Poem H6319
Amsterdam, 2026-06-17
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 19
Collection: SoulSenseSun
Keyword: Wisdom 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Am I, a poet,

something like a medium --


in a séance?


Ben ik als dichterBin ich als Dichter
zoiets als een medium --so etwas wie ein Medium --

in een seance?bei der Séance?

Poem H6318
Amsterdam, 2026-06-17
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapters 17, 20
Collection: Whirligig Scribbler
Keyword: Writing: attuning 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


What French novels taught

me does not hold true, not here --


or not anymore.


Wat ik geleerd hebDie französischen
uit Franse romans, klopt niet --Romane sind nicht wahr, nicht --

Niet hier, of niet meer.hier, oder nicht mehr.

Poem H6317
Amsterdam, 2026-06-16
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 15
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1990-1999
Keyword: Knowledge: pass on 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


We are supposed to

be married, however, she --


doesn't act like my wife.


We zijn zogenaamdWir sind angeblich
een echtpaar, maar ze gedraagt --ein Ehepaar, aber sie --

zich niet als mijn vrouw.verhält sich nicht so.

Poem H6316
Amsterdam, 2026-06-16
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 15
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1990-1999
Keyword: In love: uncertainty 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 



Zywa Yorkshire

Surveying the landscape
on a working visit, along paths
beside the brown bubbling

water of the mountain stream
with dippers and dragonflies
over grass full of foxglove

between large blocks of granite
and somewhere beyond that
the occasional bleating of a sheep

past a marshy field
with little splash-fountains
of frogs hopping about

and passing under the waterfall
that splashes into a dark
swirling pool

reaching a cave
where the floor is mossy
and the air is chilly

and the walls light up
in a pattern of flashes
that flare up white

Sinking there
in the dim, yet white, emptiness
and breathing deeper

Poem 6060
Amsterdam, 2026-06-16
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 14
Collection: web tissue
Keywords: Nature: landscape, England, Calm: space 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


As girls, we had dreams

of the future, we had dreams --


of being women.


Als meisje droomdenAls Mädchen träumten
we van later, dat we dan --wir von der Zukunft, davon,

vrouwen zouden zijn.dann Frauen zu sein.

Poem H6315
Amsterdam, 2026-06-15
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 12
Collection: Germ Substance
Keyword: Teenager (growing up) 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


In her diary,

she reveals nothing, she wants --


to sow confusion.


In haar dagboek geeftIn ihrem Tage-
ze zich nergens bloot, ze wil --buch gibt sie nichts preis, sie will --

verwarring zaaien.Verwirrung stiften.

Poem H6314
Amsterdam, 2026-06-15
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapters 12, 27
Collection: Appearances
Keyword: Truth: concealed 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


The monument, now

restored, used to look older --


when it was younger.


Het rijksmonumentDas uralte Bau-
heeft er ouder uitgezien --denkmal sah schon älter aus --

toen het jonger was.als es jünger war.

Poem S3178
Amsterdam, 2026-06-15
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 12
After restoration, the monument is clean and will remain so because it is no longer used

Collection: Over
Keyword: Care: preservation 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


I keep thinking back

to our walk, I wish I was --


still being with you!


Ik denk steeds terugDieser schöne Tag!
aan onze wandeling, ach --Ach, wenn ich doch nur neben --

liep ik maar naast jou!dir gehen könnte!

Poem H6313
Amsterdam, 2026-06-15
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 10
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1990-1999
Keyword: In love: dreamy 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


I see myself as

the heroine of the tale --


and as the writer.


Ik zie mezelf alsIch sehe mich als
de heldin van het verhaal --Heldin der Geschichte, und --

en als de schrijfster.als die Autorin.

Poem H6312
Amsterdam, 2026-06-09
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 7
Collection: Appearances
Keyword: Fantasy: imagination 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Once a floral wreath:

rusty wire and some shreds of --


ribbon on the grave.


Ooit een bloemenkrans:Einst ein Blumenkranz:
roestig ijzerdraad en lint-rostiger Draht und Fetzen --

flarden op het graf.von Band auf dem Grab.

Poem H6311
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-06
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 5
Collection: Over
Keyword: Death: cemetery / funeral 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Life in the graveyard:

wildflowers during the day --


and rabbits at night.


De begraafplaats leeft:Leben am Friedhof:
overdag wilde bloemen --tagsüber die Wildblumen --

en 's nachts konijnen.und nachts Kaninchen.

Poem H6310
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-06
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 5
Collection: Germ Substance
Keywords: Death: cemetery / funeral, Animals: rabbit / hare 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


So many footnotes!

That multi-headed monster --


that devours the text!


Al die voetnoten!All die Fußnoten!
Dat veelkoppige monster --Das vielköpfige Monster --

dat de tekst verslindt!das den Text verschlingt!

Poem S3175
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 3
Collection: WriteWiser signage
Keywords: Communication (precise), Truth: fact(s) 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


I wrote the poems

and imagined the reviews --


Then I tore them up.


Ik schreef gedichten,Ich schrieb Gedichte,
bedacht de recensies en --ersann mir die Kritiken --

verscheurde ze toen.und zerriss sie dann.

Poem H6309
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 3
Collection: Whirligig Scribbler
Keyword: Reason: critical 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Before she goes to

work, my wife puts on her face --


her everyday face.


Voor ze gaat werkenAn Werktagen schminkt
brengt mijn vrouw haar gezicht aan --sich meine Frau das Gesicht --

haar doordeweekse.das alltägliche.

Poem H6307
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 3
Collection: Appearances
Keyword: Identity: appearance 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Yes, I do love him,

so I know more about him --


than is good for me.


Ja, ik houd van hem,Ja, ich liebe ihn,
dus weet ik meer over hem --und ich weiß mehr über ihn --

dan goed voor mij is.als gut für mich ist.

Poem H6306
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 2
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1990-1999
Keyword: Love: intimacy (close relationship) 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


Among the old books,

congenial debate takes place --


by living poets.


Tussen de oudeZwischen den alten
dichtbundels debatteren --Sammlungen diskutieren --

levende dichters.lebende Dichter.

Poem H6305
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 1
Collection: Finethreads
Keywords: Writing: share, Tradition 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 


They ask the writer:

With how many lies have you --


shown us what is true?


Men vraagt de schrijver:Man fragt den Autor:
Met welke leugens laat u --Mit welchen Lügen zeigen --

ons de waarheid zien?Sie uns die Wahrheit?

Poem H6304
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Mr. Sludge, 'The Medium' (Robert Browning) - 1864
Conclusion of the poem from the collection "Dramatis Personae"; included as a preface to the novel "Possession, A Romance" (1990, A.S. Byatt)
Collection: A profession
Keywords: Writing: truth, Truth: lie 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S.; Browning, Robert 


The great poet sweats

and forges, in sparks of fire,


iron into love.


De grote dichterDer große Dichter
zweet en smeedt in vonken vuur --schwitzt und schmiedet funkelndes --

ijzer tot liefde.Eisen zu Liebe.

Poem H6308
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
On Donne's Poetry (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) - 1836
Poem from the collection "Literary remains"; included in chapter 3 of the novel "Possession, A Romance" (1990, A.S. Byatt)
Collection: A profession
Keyword: Writing: a profession 
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S.; Coleridge, Samuel Taylor 


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