Zywa Angel Down

I pick up the angel
and carry him down
the mountain
At home, I lay him down
on a bed of ice

At the table, I write everything down:
his death cry in the snow
the other angel who set him down
against the mountainside
and walked away

Then I go back down
the stairs to dissect
his earthly manifestation
of an eternal soul fallen down
from heaven

I slit the skin from the neck down
I cut through the ribs, curious
if there's a heart
The cellar door squeaks
on its hinges with every gust of wind

and yet it's just an ordinary corpse

Poem 5895
Amsterdam, 2026-02-16
A Time for Everything (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2004
Novel "En tid for alt", chapters 6 and 7
Collection: Blown sand
 

So strange, angels are

no longer there, but I see --


seagulls everywhere...


Zo vreemd, engelenSo seltsam, keine
zijn er niet meer, maar meeuwen --Engel mehr, aber Möwen --

zie ik overal...sieht man überall...

Poem S3077
Amsterdam, 2026-02-15
A Time for Everything (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2004
Novel "En tid for alt" (translated 2009), end of the sixth chapter - July 2004, Bergen
Norse myth

Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove 
 

God's terrifying

fiery demons: depicted --


as helpful angels.


Gods vreselijkeGottes schreckliche
demonen: afgebeeld als --Dämonen: dargestellt als --

goede engelen.hilfreiche Engel.

Poem H6098
Amsterdam, 2026-02-14
Yahweh is a cruel God, whether or not assisted by punishing 'angels'
Collection: Secrets & Believers
 

We are prepared to

hide at Armageddon and --


wait for an angel.


We zullen schuilenIm Armageddon
tijdens Armageddon, op --werden wir versteckt warten --

een engel wachten.auf einen Engel.

Poem S2690
Amsterdam, 2025-06-03
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? (Jeanette Winterson) - 2011
Autobiography (normal means: heterosexual), chapter 2, My Advice to Anybody Is: Get Born
The final battle of angels versus devils will take place at Armageddon (Megiddo)

Collection: Held True
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

I'm deaf: is Jesus

protecting me, or Satan --


shouting too loudly?


Ik ben hardhorend:Ich bin schwerhörig:
beschermt Jezus mij, of roept --beschützt mich Jesus, oder --

Satan veel te hard?schreit Satan zu laut?

Poem S2693
Amsterdam, 2025-06-03
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? (Jeanette Winterson) - 2011
Autobiography (normal means: heterosexual), chapter 5, At Home
Inflamed adenoids

Collection: Held True
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

I arch my shoulder

in fright, and zoom, away flies --


my guardian angel.


Van de schrik krom ikErschrocken krümm ich
mijn schouder en zoef, weg vliegt --die Schulter und schwupps, fliegt mein --

mijn beschermengel.Schutzengel davon.

Poem H5354
Amsterdam, 2025-04-06
Wicked mothers (Renate Dorrestein) - 1992
Novel "Ontaarde moeders" ("Unnatural mothers", translation 1994: "Wicked Mothers"), chapter 4, 'Veilig bij Moeder op schoot' ('Safe on Mother's lap')
Collection: Held True
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate 
 

All the white angels.

sway, they are singing of us:


of our division.


Witte engelenDie Engel wiegen
zingen wiegend over ons:sich und singen über uns --

over verdeeldheid.unsere Zwietracht.

Poem S2508
Amsterdam, 2025-01-15
Nothing surprises me anymore (Tiken Jah Fakoly) - 2004
Song "Plus rien ne m'étonne", album "Coup de gueule" ("Rant")
Collection: May the Might
Tribute to: Fakoly, Tiken Jah 
 

Sudden gusts of wind,

a foreigner arises --


an angel perhaps.


Ineens vlaagt de wind,Plötzliche Böen,
er verschijnt een vreemdeling --im Feld erscheint ein Fremder --

een engel misschien.vielleicht ein Engel.

Poem H5116
Amsterdam, 2024-12-05
Bird (Andrea Arnold) - 2024
Film
Collection: Heart's Delight
Tribute to: Arnold, Andrea 
 

Am I not alone,

is there up there on the roof --


a guardian angel?


Ben ik niet alleen,Bin ich nicht allein,
staat daar boven op het dak --steht da oben auf dem Dach,

een beschermengel?still, ein Schutzengel?

Poem H5117
Amsterdam, 2024-12-05
Bird (Andrea Arnold) - 2024
Film
Collection: Heart's Delight
Tribute to: Arnold, Andrea 
 

Real angels look down

on us and sternly say us:


get in the basket!


Echte engelenEchte Engel schau-
kijken op ons neer, zeggen --en auf uns herab, sagen --

ons streng: in de mand!uns streng: in den Korb!

Poem S2227
Amsterdam, 2024-06-20
In my basket (Lieke Marsman) - 2019
Poem, published in the Gids (nr.6, 2019) and in the collection "In mijn mand" (2021)
Collection: No wonder
Tribute to: Marsman, Lieke 
 

Why aren't there angels

keeping watch, not even here --


in Los Angeles?


Waarom waken erWarum wachen hier
geen engelen, niet eens hier --keine Engel, nicht einmal --

in Los Angeles?in Los Angeles?

Poem H4624
Amsterdam, 2024-05-19
Shalimar the Clown (Salman Rushdie) - 2005
Novel, chapter Kashmira, § 1
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman 
 

What would you do then?

This angel has been injured --


so he cannot fly!


Wat zou jij dan doen?Was würdest du tun?
Deze engel is gewond --Der Engel ist verwundet --

Hij kan niet vliegen!Er kann nicht fliegen!

Poem H4370
Amsterdam, 2023-12-16
The Wounded Angel (Hugo Simberg) - 1903
"Haavoittunut enkeli", Finland's 'National Painting'
Collection: Moons
Tribute to: Simberg, Hugo 
 

Beware, your body

is a prey for the devil --


He makes you hungry.


Pas op, jouw lichaamVorsicht, dein Körper
is een prooi voor de duivel --ist die Beute des Teufels --

Hij geeft je honger.Er macht dich hungrig.

Poem S1995
Amsterdam, 2023-11-10
Irish Nights (Simon Vestdijk) - 1942
Novel "Ierse nachten", published 1946, chapter 4-4, Letters to Saint Patrick (AD 1859)
Collection: Inmost [2]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

The minister has

a large first-aid kit with him --


He knows the devil.


De predikant heeftDer Erste-Hilfe-
een grote verbandtrommel --Kasten des Pfarrers ist groß --

Hij kent de duivel.Er kennt den Teufel.

Poem H3974
Amsterdam, 2023-07-26
Oranges are not the only fruit (Jeanette Winterson) - 1985
Novel, part "Numbers"
Collection: No wonder
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

Satan and sex, in

all appearances, and slugs:


enemies enough!


Satan en seks, inSatan und Sex, in
al hun gedaanten, en slakken:vielen Formen, und Schnecken:

vijanden genoeg!ja, Feinde genug!

Poem S1826
Amsterdam, 2023-07-25
Oranges are not the only fruit (Jeanette Winterson) - 1985
Novel, part "Genesis"
Collection: No wonder
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

Zywa Doubt and Belief [2]

Usually angels are vague
weak shadows in the head
of the people who imagine them

but prophets have wishes
that force archangels
to do and say
what they need urgently

It comes from God
including the evil
(that people do to each other)

and the devils from tradition
whom the chosen want
to expel from everyone
who is different from them

God is Allwise
He lets men
judge for themselves

about faith and knowing
and the elaboration of rules
for everything about which
there could otherwise be doubts

Poem 4825
Amsterdam, 2022-11-20
The Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) - 1988
Gibreel
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman 
 

Before they can speak

angels always have to wait --


for a listener.


Engelen moetenMit dem Sprechen muss
met spreken altijd wachten --ein Engel immer warten --

op een luisteraar.auf einen Hörer.

Poem H3573
Amsterdam, 2022-11-20
The Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) - 1988
Novel, chapter V. A city visible but unseen, §2
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman 
 

Zywa Demon

The yellow glow scares me
Already this afternoon, when things got blurry
yet I seemed to be awake for a second
from the pain in my belly

It shouldn't be, I don't want it
My belly must be safe
for the baby, hopefully
it will soon be over

here, in my own bed
oh, what is happening?
I gotta get out, close the curtain
against that dreadful moon

All is well, the doctor said
but I couldn't get up
and not thank him
I just lay there

Guy smiled and the doctor shove
something into me, not as nice and sweet
as I am used to with Guy
not even in my wildest dreams

Poem 4801
Amsterdam, 2022-11-11
Moonlight Interior (Edward Hopper) - 1923
Painting
"Rosemary's Baby" (book 1967, Ira Levin; film 1968, Roman Polanski)
Faust-legend (1587, Johann Spies)

Collection: NightWatch
Tribute to: Hopper, Edward; Levin, Ira 
 

I am my angel,

who will always follow me --


who helps me in need.


Ik ben mijn engel,Ich bin mein Engel,
die mij altijd zal volgen --der mir immer folgen wird --

die in nood mij helpt.der mir in Not hilft.

Poem H3392
Amsterdam, 2022-07-22
Jimenez (Maarten van Roozendaal) - 2012
Song (book and album "De Gemene Deler")
Collection: Appearances
Tribute to: Van Roozendaal, Maarten 
 

He saw through Satan,

who had outmanoeuvred God --


and kept it secret.


Hij doorzag Satan,Er durchschaut Satan,
die gewonnen had van God --der von Gott gewonnen hat --

en dat geheim hield.und es geheim hält.

Poem S1169
Amsterdam, 2021-05-06
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel García Márquez) - 1967
Novel "Cien años de soledad"
Collection: Dream flight
Tribute to: García Márquez, Gabriel 
 

You must learn to live

with the dark angels, sometimes --


there's a golden one.


Je leert te levenDu lernst zu leben
met zwarte engelen, soms --mit schwarzen Engeln, manchmal --

is er een van goud.gibt's eine aus Gold.

Poem H2679
Amsterdam, 2020-03-22
Solle's story (Andreas Oosthoek) - 2015
Novel "Het relaas van Solle", chapter 34
Collection: Chance
Tribute to: Oosthoek, Andreas 
 

Beauty: an angel

of terror who despises --


to sweep us away.


Schoonheid: een engelSchönheit: ein Engel
der verschrikking die versmaadt --des Schreckens, der uns verschmäht --

ons weg te vagen.und noch nicht zerstört.

Poem H2650
Amsterdam, 2019-12-26
The first elegy (Rainer Maria Rilke) - 1912
Poem "Die erste Elegie" (1912, collection "Duineser Elegien", 1922)
Collection: May the Might
Tribute to: Rilke, Rainer Maria 
 

Expressing your love

works best if you see people --


as body angels.


Liefde uiten luktJemanden lieben
het best als je mensen ziet --geht gut, wenn man Menschen sieht --

als lichaamsengelen.als Körperengel.

Poem H2645
Amsterdam, 2019-12-12
Angels (Arnon Grunberg) - 2019
Column "Engelen", in the VPRO broadcasting-guide (December 14-20th, 2019)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Grunberg, Arnon 
 

Angel in the snow,

a body print from heaven --


to which she flies up.


Engel in de sneeuw,Ein Engel im Schnee
een afdruk uit de hemel --ein Abdruck aus dem Himmel --

waarheen ze opvliegt.zu dem er hoch fliegt.

Poem H2336
Amsterdam, 2018-12-13
BulbuliS (Pennsylvania) is active on PoemHunter.com
Collection: Life line
Dedicated to: BulbuliS 
 

I learn a lesson

from the devil in my bed:


I invented him.


Ik leer een lesjeDas ist die Lektion
van de duivel die mij streelt:vom Teufel, der mich streichelt:

ik heb hem bedacht.er ist erfunden.

Poem H2332
Amsterdam, 2018-12-12
Devil (Olivia) - 2018
Poem, published on AllPoetry.com on December 12th, 2018
Collection: Whirligig Scribbler
Tribute to: Olivia (Livvy820) 
 

Is there a devil

hacking inside me, with claws --


of desperation?


Hakt er een duivelHackt ein Teufel in
in mijn lichaam, met klauwen --meinen Körper, mit Klauen --

van dolle wanhoop?wüster Verzweiflung?

Poem S0816
Amsterdam, 2018-12-12
Devil (Olivia) - 2018
Poem, published on AllPoetry.com on December 12th, 2018
Collection: Truder
Tribute to: Olivia (Livvy820) 
 

Zywa Giving names

To understand what is going on
in my belly, the tingling and tickling
of the flagella that know blindly
what I am hoping for, I dive down
in the collective unconscious

I juggle with symbols
name the gloss of the cells
soul and the cells an embodiment
of the great soul, the invisible
connection of everything, and among all

there is the mystery of the angels
who hold our essence
and carry in their hands my desire
to the nesting place
in my belly, tingling and tickling

while there are so many questions
from the angels of my mind
which are condemned as devils
by the fear of independence
of others and of yourself

questions about what is going on
and opinions, pros and cons
angels and devils, sometimes both armed
with deceit and threats, denying
that they are part of the great soul

Poem 1917
Amsterdam, 2018-11-12
Collection: Short Sermons
 

Towers
are opened
Towers
I too open myself

I set myself free:
I dare to be vulnerable
I am equal to other people
Other people are equal to me
 

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