Zywa

She pulls her dress up

to her face and then freezes --

hiding it in shame.



Ze trekt haar jurk op	Sie zieht ihr Kleid hoch
tot haar gezicht en houdt het --	bis ans Gesicht, erstarrt und --

beschaamd verborgen.	verbirgt es vor Scham.

Poem H4272
Amsterdam, 2023-11-01
The Cover-up (Marlene Dumas) - 1994
Painting
Collection: Imprints Masks
Keyword: Shame
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene

Zywa Is your photo attention for me?

Mummy is bad
she doesn't look
at my painting
she hides her eye

behind the camera
and in her mind she makes
her own painting
of me

another Helena of me
with blood on her hands
an angry Lolita
with a cool belly

for hot men
a Confident-Blue
belly despite the voyeurs
at mummy's exhibition

who think they see me
while they fantasise
about a fille fatale
pleasing them

Poem 5328
Amsterdam, 2023-10-08
The Painter (Marlene Dumas) - 1994
Painting
Ink "Confidence Blue" by Monteverde (California)
About Helena of Troy, see also the poems 0899. "The blossoms stay with me", and 3155. "#Beauty"
Collection: Take a picture, now
Keywords: Attention: exist, Resistance
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene

Zywa Colour negative

My ear is colour positive
the red rim boils
from your words, a bright
light bursts from the auricle
and hangs in front of my mouth

in front of my held breath
my lips not quite open
my thoughts unspoken

my look colour negative
with well blooded brains
crossed arms, glowing
with suspicion and defiance
with the desire to attack

You won't get away with it
you won't get away with it
you won't get away with it

Poem 5318
Amsterdam, 2023-10-05
Genetic Longing (Marlene Dumas) - 1994
Painting "Genetiese Heimwee (Genetic Longing)"
Poem "5. Genetiese Heimwee" (2000, Antjie Krog), collection "Kleur kom nooit alleen nie" ("Colour never comes alone")
Collection: Changing Times
Keyword: Resistance
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene; Krog, Antjie

Zywa The virgin sacrifice

You disappointed us
your parents, your brothers
everyone who cared for you

You were privileged, but now
you get another room
We will help you

No, you can't see them anymore
you know that very well
You are not pure

for the Holy House
You're already forgotten
You've never been there

Nobody knows you
Your life begins here
You have to prepare yourself

You have to learn the rules
After giving birth you will
work to wash yourself

the baby's blood
and the shame
clean

Poem 5330
Amsterdam, 2023-10-08
Bashfulness (Marlene Dumas) - 1991
Painting "Schaammeisje" ("Shame girl")
Athens: Parthenon = Virgin's room, the temple of Athena Parthenos (Virgin Athena), next to the temple of virgins with six Caryatids (women from Karyes), which is called Erechtheion
Collection: Froend
Keywords: Shame, Virgin
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene

My spirit is drowned,

my body still gasps for air --

still gasps to live on.



Mijn geest verdronk al,	Mein Geist ertrank schon,
mijn lichaam hapt nog naar lucht --	mein Körper schnappt noch nach Luft --

naar verderleven.	nach weiterleben.

Poem H4271
Amsterdam, 2023-11-01
Losing (Her Meaning) (Marlene Dumas) - 1988
Painting, a diptych with "Waiting (For Meaning)" - see poem 5322. Lying in state
Collection: Bruises
Keyword: Life: survival (reflex)
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene

Zywa Lying in state

I am laid down for you
on a table made up
as a bridal bed

My head turned away
from you in the cup
of my hands

I feel you everywhere
you haven't touched me yet
with meaningless lust

You will kiss my belly
and bump the fruit
not knowing what you are doing

You won't be the man
who is going to protect our lives
from unworthiness

Poem 5322
Amsterdam, 2023-10-07
Waiting (For Meaning) (Marlene Dumas) - 1988
Painting, a diptych with "Losing (Her Meaning)" - see poem H4271 My spirit is drowned
Poem "6. Waiting (for meaning)" (2000, Antjie Krog), collection "Kleur kom nooit alleen nie" ("Colour never comes alone")
Collection: Bruises
Keyword: Rape (self-deprecation)
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene; Krog, Antjie

Zywa Within the insect screens

The calm in your eyes
on me opens me
You lie in me
like a long l
of love

The light has licked you clean
it sings of you the glorious song
of our years, which bridge
everything that separates us
and clothes us in differences

For us, love is
still a thick word
of desire, the l
that erects
when I undress

Poem 5324
Amsterdam, 2023-10-07
The Particularity of Nakedness (Marlene Dumas) - 1987
Painting
Poems "7. The Particularity of Nakedness", "liefdeswoord" ("word of love") and "skryfode" ("writing ode") - 2000, Antjie Krog, collection "Kleur kom nooit alleen nie" ("Colour never comes alone")
Collection: More
Keyword: Love: harmony
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene; Krog, Antjie

Under the bottom

the star clusters angrily --

stare at the people.



Onder de bodem	Unter dem Boden
staren de sterrenclusters --	starren die Sternenschwärme --

boos naar de mensen.	wütend auf die Welt.

Poem S1987
Amsterdam, 2023-11-01
Jesus is crossed (Marlene Dumas) - 1983
Painting "Jesus is boos"
Collection: Metamorphic body
Keyword: Fantasy: imagination
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene

There's a strange hand with

pointing fingers on my thigh --

and it excites me.



Er ligt een vreemde	Eine zeigende
wijzende hand op mijn dij --	Hand liegt auf meinen Schenkel --

en dat windt mij op.	und das erregt mich.

Poem H4270
Amsterdam, 2023-11-01
The Loneliness of Skin (Marlene Dumas) - 1983
Painting
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
Keyword: Body: naked
Tribute to: Dumas, Marlene

Pencil	Pumice	Rain	Loves
Compressed	Birds	Ifless	Photo
Tributes	Dedications	Composers	Home