Zywa

It's only a part

of me that decides, that's it --

for my whole being.



Slechts een deel van mij	Nur ein Teil von mir
beslist, en dat is het dan --	entscheidet, und das ist es --

voor mijn hele ik.	für mein ganzes Selbst.

Poem S0527
Amsterdam, 2017-09-09
Conversations with Kafka (1951, Gustav Janouch)
Diary 1958-1959 (Frida Vogels) - 2006
Janouch: The content of the human ego is greater than the narrowly defined field of vision of the momentary consciousness. Consciousness is only a part of the ego. However, with every decision, one gives direction to one's entire ego. This is how the most common and serious clashes of misunderstanding occur.
"Dagboek 1958-1959" - October 24th, 1958, in the train to Italy
Collection: Beyond the Cape
Keyword: Reason: and feelings
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida; Kafka, Franz

Zywa Two arms stretched wide

It's already dark, the time when it's quiet
in the street. Two hat-men come
to fetch me. They take me on both sides
and carry me stiff away
across the last bridge
the trembling water

Outside the city, we rest panting
at the abandoned quarry
They wipe the hatbrim-sweat
help me take off my coat, vest and shirt
in the pale moonlight
and carefully fold my clothes

I walk up and down until they beckon
and point me where to lie down
in the pit. They wrench my back
in the sharp stones
Back and forth they reach
the knife. My bare neck is long

In the silhouette of a house
in the sky, a window swings
open with a flicker
Two arms stretch wide
and I wonder where
the judge is whom I have never seen

Poem 2023
Amsterdam, 2019-01-11
The trial (Franz Kafka) - 1925
Syria (ar-Raqqa in 2014)
Book "Der Process" (1925, Franz Kafka), § 10
Collection: Short Sermons
Keyword: Judgement
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

Zywa The theatre

They are not allowed to take sides
They must sit exaltedly
In black robes, stern
The high judges

This is how the old Titorelli
immortalized them in his paintings
fully compliant with the instructions
and the imagination of the people

But no one ever sees them
They shield themselves
With guards and clerks
They keep their sessions secret

upstairs in the attic rooms
on an old horse blanket
over the torn seat
of their kitchen chair

They have deaf ears
for the pleaders and order
the court ushers to encourage
the suspects in the corridors

Poem 2022
Amsterdam, 2019-01-10
The trial (Franz Kafka) - 1925
Spain (Zaragoza in 1711, Inquisition)
Book "Der Process" (1925, Franz Kafka), § 6 and 10
Collection: Short Sermons
Keyword: Judgement
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

Zywa Really an issue

My fault is a fact. I don't know
it yet, that is really a matter

of time, of reading in the mirror
what, for everyone, is written

on my face - The process is just
beginning, the bell hasn't even rung

Even before my arrest, oddly enough
I already guessed, suspected, something

of the secret of my life
and as I saw the silent spectators

watching me with bated breath, ready
to spread the news

I was still hopeful, but
no longer doubting the truth

of the slander against me
I must keep calm and conform

above all, not attract attention, not
involve my family in my fate

Poem 2021
Amsterdam, 2019-01-10
The trial (Franz Kafka) - 1925
Spain (Zaragoza in 1711, Inquisition)
Book "Der Process" (1925, Franz Kafka), § 1, 3, 6, 7, 8
Collection: Short Sermons
Keyword: Judgement
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

Zywa Nothing to blame

My case is vitally important

I already have a thick file
full of possibilities and side issues
interrogation after interrogation

sentence by sentence
in the clerk's calligraphy:
completely my own story

Because, if there is any indictment
then I have pronounced it myself
Plenty of time to think about it

in my cell, with sometimes a trip
to the torture chamber, to watch
others being helped

to remember all their lives
and to conjure up guilt
out of trivial events

I do what I can, I immediately gave
away my best possessions
to the guards - Yes, of course

if you wish, we accept it
then you don't have to
blame yourself -

I praise their expertise, request them
to report my cooperation
and I really don't feel too important

to ask the fleas
in their winter coat
to intercede

Poem 2053
Amsterdam, 2019-01-25
The trial (Franz Kafka) - 1925
Spain (Zaragoza in 1711, Inquisition)
Book "Der Process" (1925, Franz Kafka), § 7 and 9
Collection: Short Sermons
Keyword: Judgement
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

Zywa Silent investigation

The bell, an unexpected visit:
a gentleman who asks me

to come along, I have to
I am arrested

but only for further investigation
Please don't make it any worse!

At the office, I get a seat
Please wait here, then it will

be fine, it takes time
You do understand, don't you?

Accuracy is required and you are
not the only one. I wish that was true!

We get food, just enough
in our own stench, silently

arguing around
the growing puddle of urine

over the rotting mattresses
a soft bed of worms

from the breathtaking poop barrel
It seems we've been quietly forgotten

Sometimes someone whispers
if he dares and faces

the angry glances of fear
of caning, so as not to get crazy

Poem 2068
Amsterdam, 2019-01-28
The trial (Franz Kafka) - 1925
Goa in 1675 - Inquisition
Book "Der Process" (1925, Franz Kafka)
Collection: Short Sermons
Keywords: Power: wielding, Bharat (India)
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

I came in good faith,

well, is there anyone here --

who's in need of me?



Op goed vertrouwen	In gutem Glauben
ben ik hierheen gekomen --	bin ich hierher gekommen --

Wie heeft mij nodig?	Also, wer braucht mich?

Poem S1053
Amsterdam, 2020-08-27
The castle (Franz Kafka) - 1923
Novel "Das Schloß"
Collection: Specialities
Keyword: Together: society
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

It's an invasion,

the unannounced arrival --

of a surveyor!



Het is een inbreuk,	Es ist ein Einbruch,
de onverwachte aankomst --	die plötzliche Ankunft --

van een landmeter!	eines Vermessers!

Poem S1052
Amsterdam, 2020-08-27
The castle (Franz Kafka) - 1923
Novel "Das Schloß"
Collection: Specialities
Keyword: Together: group
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

The Messiah will

come, but unfortunately --

just one day too late.



De Messias zal	Der Messias wird
zeker komen, maar helaas --	ja kommen, aber leider --

net een dag te laat.	einen Tag zu spät.

Poem S1269
Egmond aan Zee, 2021-10-24
Octave booklet G (Franz Kafka) - 1917
Oktavheft G, December 4th, 1917
"Der Messias wird nicht am letzten Tag kommen, sondern am allerletzten" (The Messiah will not come on the last day, but on the very last)
Collection: Secrets & Believers
Keyword: Hope (passive)
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

Well, what can I say

about myself? Not so much --

as about my chair.



Wat kan ik zeggen	Was kann ich sagen
over mijzelf? Niet zoveel --	über mich selbst? Nicht so viel --

als over mijn stoel.	wie über den Stuhl.

Poem S0569
Amsterdam, 2017-11-18
Third Octave Booklet (Franz Kafka) - 1917
Dritte Oktavheft - October 19th, 1917
Collection: On the fly
Keyword: Self-knowledge (vague)
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz

I am not awake,

still hiding in my nightmare --

just like a woodlouse.



Ik ben niet wakker,	Ich bin nicht wach, ich
ik schuil nog in mijn angstdroom --	stecke in meinem Albtraum --

als een pissebed.	wie eine Assel.

Poem S1054
De Koog, 2020-09-05
The Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka) - 1915
Story "Die Verwandlung"
"The thigmophile - The longing for comfort" (2015, Midas Dekkers)
Collection: Home sea
Keyword: Fear: bad dream
Tribute to: Kafka, Franz; Dekkers, Midas

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