| The fish is thrashing | |
| so violently, it doesn't -- | |
| look like it's dying. | |
| De vis spartelt zo | Der Fisch zappelt so |
| hevig in mijn handen, dat -- | heftig, dass es gar nicht so -- |
| het geen doodgaan lijkt. | aussieht wie Sterben. |
Amsterdam, 2026-02-21
My struggle 3. Boyhood Island (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Tredje bok", part 4 - Summer vacation 1976, Sørbøvågen (north of Bergen)
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| Slowly rotting is | |
| not for me, I will simply -- | |
| reject any straws. | |
| Langzaam wegrotten | Langsam verrotten |
| is niets voor mij, strohalmen -- | ist nichts für mich, Strohhalme -- |
| zal ik afwijzen. | weise ich zurück. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-04
I hope to die when I'm still strong (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Ik hoop te sterven als ik nog sterk ben", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VIII [Authorship], and in "Diary 1966-1967" (2009) - January 3rd, 1966, Bologna
Collection: Self-portraits
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Bitter is my soul | |
| now that it is leaving me -- | |
| for eternity. | |
| Bitter is mijn ziel | Bitter ist meine |
| nu ze mij gaat verlaten -- | Seele, sie verlässt mich bald -- |
| voor het eeuwige. | für die Ewigkeit. |
Amsterdam, 2025-06-12
Sour Drops (Nicola F. Haym / Georg Friedrich Händel) - 1728
Air "Stille amare" (based on the libretto of the opera "Tolomeo et Alessandro" [1711, Carolo S. Capece, music Domenico Scarlatti], music Georg Friedrich Händel, HWV25), from the opera "Tolomeo, Re d'Egitto" ("Ptolemy, King of Egypt"), 3rd act - Pharao Ptolemy IX Lathyros
Collection: Over
Tribute to: Rossi, Giacomo; Capece, Carolo S.
Composer: Handel, Georg Friedrich
| Ah, the willow branch | |
| in the vase can no longer -- | |
| reach the low water. | |
| Ach, de wilgentak | Der Weidenzweig in |
| in de vaas kan het water -- | der Vase kann das Wasser -- |
| niet meer bereiken. | nicht mehr erreichen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-02-11
The water in the vase (Shigenobu) - 1832
Haiku by Shigenobu (-1832), included in the 1986 collection "Japanese Death Poems", compiled by Yoel Hoffmann: "Nageire no / mizu mo todokazu / yanagi kana" ("A willow branch / that doesn't reach the water / in the vase")
Collection: After the festivities
Tribute to: Shigenobu
| The mirror of my | |
| consciousness breaks, but the world -- | |
| always remains whole. | |
| De spiegel van mijn | Der Spiegel meines |
| bewustzijn breekt, de wereld -- | Bewusstseins zerbricht, doch die -- |
| blijft altijd weer heel. | Welt bleibt immer ganz. |
Amsterdam, 2025-02-10
I raise the mirror of my life (Taigen Sofu) - 1555
Tanka by the Zen-monk Taigen Sofu (1495-1555), included in the 1986 collection "Japanese Death Poems", compiled by Yoel Hoffmann: "I raise the mirror of my life / up to my face: sixty years / With a swing I smash the reflection - / the world as usual / all in its place"
Collection: Stream
Tribute to: Taigen, Sofu
| Forever, the last | |
| heartbeat closes the treasure -- | |
| chambers in the head. | |
| De laatste hartslag | Der letzte Herzschlag |
| sluit in het hoofd voor altijd -- | verschließt dauerhaft die Schatz- |
| de schatkamers af. | kammern im Gehirn. |
Amsterdam, 2024-12-02
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
| I look like a ghost, | |
| my colours fade, my body -- | |
| is a skeleton. | |
| Ik lijk wel een spook, | Ich bin ein Gespenst, |
| mijn kleur verdwijnt, mijn lichaam -- | fast farblos, mein Körper wird -- |
| wordt al een skelet. | bereits zum Skelett. |
Amsterdam, 2024-10-13
Collection: The Yellow House Museum
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk
| He utters a cry | |
| of shooting pain, he's afraid -- | |
| afraid of dying. | |
| Hij slaakt een kreetje | Vor Schmerzen stößt er |
| van de pijnscheut, hij is bang -- | einen Schrei aus, er hat Angst -- |
| bang om dood te gaan. | Angst vor dem Sterben. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-31
Jackson's Dilemma (Iris Murdoch) - 1995
Novel, chapter Three, The Past
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris
| The body's dying | |
| process may be realised -- | |
| by the fading brain. | |
| Het stervensproces | Der Sterbeprozess |
| van het lichaam wordt misschien -- | des Körpers wird vielleicht wohl -- |
| beseft door het brein. | vom Gehirn erkannt. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-28
Frankissstein: a love story (Jeanette Winterson) - 2019
Novel, What terrified me will terrify others
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette
| Darling, you can die | |
| peacefully, you'll stay with me -- | |
| cradled in my heart. | |
| Liefste, wees niet bang | Hab doch keine Angst |
| te sterven, je blijft bij mij -- | vor dem Tod, ich wiege dich -- |
| wiegend in mijn hart. | in meinem Herzen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-18
Solveig's cradle song (Henrik Ibsen / Edvard Grieg) - 1867
Play (music 1876), fifth act, "Solveigs vuggevise" ("Solveig's cradle song")
Collection: VacantVoid
Tribute to: Ibsen, Henrik
Composer: Grieg, Edvard
| I take my mother | |
| on her last journey and God -- | |
| himself welcomes her. | |
| Ik neem moeder mee | Die letzte Reise |
| op haar laatste reis en God -- | meiner Mutter, klar, Gott selbst -- |
| zelf verwelkomt haar. | heißt sie willkommen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-17
The death of Åse (Henrik Ibsen / Edvard Grieg) - 1867
Play (music 1876), third act, "Åses død" ("The death of Åse")
Collection: VacantVoid
Tribute to: Ibsen, Henrik
Composer: Grieg, Edvard
| I shrivel, the jail | |
| cell is an inverted womb -- | |
| It's the womb of death. | |
| Ik verschrompel in | Die Haftzelle ist |
| de cel, de omgekeerde -- | der umgekehrte Mutter- |
| baarmoeder: des doods. | schoß, der des Todes. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-13
Shame (Salman Rushdie) - 1983
Novel / Exposition with stories, part 4, chapter 11 Monologue of a Hanged Man
Collection: Shadows
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| Well, is a good death | |
| the one that you can live with -- | |
| as the survivor? | |
| Is een goede dood | Ist ein Tod gut, wenn |
| die waarmee je kunt leven -- | man damit leben kann als -- |
| als nabestaande? | Hinterbliebener? |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-11
Shame (Salman Rushdie) - 1983
Novel / Exposition with stories, part 3, chapter 7 Blushing
Collection: Shadows
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
|
At the bench, just before |
Amsterdam, 2024-03-16
On the death of a neighbour while walking his dog on March 14th, 2024
Collection: Webgarden
| Singing in my head | |
| as I drown, I hear echoes -- | |
| of water echoes. | |
| Terwijl ik verdrink | Ich ertrinke, in |
| zingen in mijn hoofd echo's -- | meinem Kopf singen Echos -- |
| van waterecho's. | von Wasserechos. |
Amsterdam, 2024-02-18
Sonate 2 (Jean-Pierre Leguay) - 1983
Composition "2me Sonate" for organ, performed by Jean-Luc Etienne in the Organpark on February 18th, 2024
Collection: org ANP ark
Composer: Leguay, Jean-Pierre
| Forget I'm dying, | |
| please let me settle for you -- | |
| a few little jobs. | |
| Vergeet alsjeblieft | Bitte vergiss es, |
| dat ik sterf, laat me voor jou -- | dass ich sterbe und lass mich -- |
| nog wat klusjes doen. | etwas für dich tun. |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-30
Poor (Koenraad Goudeseune) - 2022
Poem "Arm" (collection "Nagelaten gedichten"), written on his deathbed
Collection: Over
Tribute to: Goudeseune, Koenraad
| Freedom is: you may | |
| choose, and it is even more! | |
| Not having to choose! | |
| Vrijheid is: mogen | Freiheit ist: wählen |
| kiezen, en nog meer is het! | dürfen, und es ist noch mehr! |
| Niet hoeven kiezen! | Nicht wählen müssen! |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-27
Dutch blood (Freek de Jonge) - 1991
Book "Neerlands bloed"
Collection: Stream
Tribute to: De Jonge, Freek
| Oh I was dying | |
| and had many questions: Why? | |
| Tell me! Tell me why. | |
| Ik was stervende | Ich lag im Sterben |
| en had veel vragen: Waarom? | und ich fragte mich: Warum? |
| Vertel me: Waarom? | Sag es mir: Warum? |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-27
Individual acts (Freek de Jonge) - 1992
Performance "Losse Nummers"
Collection: Unseen
Tribute to: De Jonge, Freek
| At twilight, there is | |
| a crack in the day, a gate -- | |
| for dying people. | |
| 's Avonds kiert de dag, | Abenddämmerung |
| de schemering is een poort -- | ist ein Riss im Tag, ein Tor -- |
| voor de stervenden. | für die Sterbenden. |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-22
the daylight gate (Jeanette Winterson) - 2012
Novel, Lancaster AD 1612
Collection: Stream
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette
| Will you stay with me? | |
| And when you will close my eyes -- | |
| I'm able to die. | |
| Blijf je nog bij mij? | Bleibst du noch bei mir? |
| En als jij mijn ogen sluit -- | Schließe meine Augen, erst -- |
| dan kan ik sterven. | dann kann ich sterben. |
Amsterdam, 2022-12-02
Abide with me, then I'll go gladly to death (Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel / Johann Sebastiaan Bach) - 1718
Song "Bist du bei mir, geh' ich mit Freuden zum Sterben" for soprano, alto and baritone (/ 1725, Johann Sebastian Bach, for voice and continuo), performed by Lucia Swarts (cello) and Geerten van de Wetering (organ) in the Organpark on December 2nd, 2022 (BWV 508)
Collection: org ANP ark
Tribute to: Stölzel, Gottfried Heinrich
Composer: Bach, Johann Sebastian
| The world does exist, | |
| finally I know for sure: | |
| I am dying there. | |
| De wereld bestaat, | Die Welt besteht, doch |
| alsnog weet ik het zeker -- | weiß ich es, sehr sicher, jetzt -- |
| nu ik er doodga. | wo ich dort sterbe. |
Amsterdam, 2022-11-23
The Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) - 1988
Novel, chapter IX. A wonderful lamp
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
|
Three wands |
Amsterdam, 2022-10-31
The Persian goddess Anahita ("immaculate") rides a chariot drawn by four horses named Wind, Rain, Clouds, and Sleet
Collection: On living on [1]
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk
| Telephone: Mama | |
| is dying, I can't go there -- | |
| walk around on tears. | |
| Telefoon: mama | Telefon: Mama |
| gaat dood, ik kan er niet heen -- | stirbt, ich kann nicht zu ihr, geh -- |
| loop rond op tranen. | auf Tränen herum. |
Amsterdam, 2022-10-26
In the evening the phone rings (Jila Mossaed) - 2009
Poem "På kvällen ringer telefonen" (collection "Varje natt kysser jag markens fötter")
Collection: VacantVoid
Tribute to: Mossaed, Jila
| He sniffs and he sucks | |
| all air out of the bedroom -- | |
| Open the window! | |
| Hij snuift en hij zuigt | Er schnupft und er saugt |
| alle lucht uit de kamer -- | die ganze Luft aus dem Raum -- |
| Zet het raam open! | Öffne das Fenster! |
Berg en Dal, 2022-10-12
You seemed with every (Michel Bartosik) - 1990
Poem "Je leek met ieder" (collection "Sunt lacrimae")
Father on his deathbed
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Bartosik, Michel
| Something's going on, | |
| the image fades; I struggle -- | |
| and keep resisting. | |
| Er is iets gaande, | Da geht etwas vor, |
| het beeld verbleekt; ik wil niet -- | das Bild erblasst; ich will nicht -- |
| en sputter tegen. | und sträube weiter. |
Amsterdam, 2022-05-28
plotting. silences (Anthony Leigh Dunstan) - 2021
Composition, performed by the hyperorgan in the Organpark on February 11th, 2021, May 20th, 2022, and May 28th, 2022, with video
Collection: org ANP ark
Composer: Dunstan, Anthony Leigh
| I don't want to share | |
| my misery, I'll only -- | |
| share my life with you. | |
| Geef me ook later | Ich möchte mit dir |
| geen medelijden, alleen -- | nicht meine Misere, bloß -- |
| jouw medeleven. | mein Leben teilen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-04-20
Collection: On living on [1]
| He doesn't want to die, | |
| he's fighting, it is a fight -- | |
| of body and mind. | |
| Hij wil niet sterven, | Er will nicht sterben, |
| hij vecht, het is een gevecht -- | er kämpft, ja, es ist ein Kampf -- |
| van lichaam en geest. | von Körper und Geist. |
Overberg, 2021-09-06
Bruno's Dream (Iris Murdoch) - 1969
Novel
Collection: Dreams of love
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris
|
Farewell Mother Earth |
Amsterdam, 2021-04-28
Claviceps purpurea (Ergot) and Hyoscyamus niger (Henbane) were used as a psychedelic agent (LSD) respectively in Eleusis (1500 BC - 400 AD) and Pompeii (650 BC - 79 AD)
LSD = LysergSäure Diethylamid
Collection: Metamorphic body
| Un usual day, | |
| the butterfly sleeps, dreaming -- | |
| off into the dark. | |
| G/een dag als anders, | K/ein Tag wie immer, |
| de vlinder ligt te slapen -- | der Schmetterling schläft, träumt sich -- |
| droomt het donker in. | in die Dunkelheit. |
Amsterdam, 2020-12-28
Butterfly (Rowwen Hèze) - 2003
Song "Vlinder" (album "Dageraad")
About the murder of Nicky Verstappen (1987-1998)
Collection: Em Brace
Tribute to: Rowwen Hèze
| He grins in the pain | |
| of his wounds grown stiff, takes death -- | |
| as an aspirin. | |
| Hij grijnst in de pijn | Er grinst mal im Schmerz |
| van zijn wonden, neemt de dood -- | seiner Wunden, nimmt den Tod -- |
| als aspirientje. | als Aspirinchen. |
Amsterdam, 2020-11-27
For Whom the Bell Tolls (Ernest Hemingway) - 1940
Novel
Collection: Human excess
Tribute to: Hemingway, Ernest
| In his hand, he held | |
| the other hand, feeling blood -- | |
| gushing out and out. | |
| Hij hield zijn hand los | Er hielt seine Hand |
| in de hand, voelde het bloed -- | in der Hand, spürte das Blut -- |
| uit, uit zich gutsen. | aus, aus sich spritzen. |
Amsterdam, 2020-11-26
Out, Out- (Robert Frost) - 1916
Poem ("McClure's" [July 1916], collection "Mountain Interval")
Collection: Stream
Tribute to: Frost, Robert
| Often it's: waiting, | |
| for everyone present and -- | |
| the dying person. | |
| Vaak is het: wachten, | Es ist oft: Warten, |
| voor ieder die er bij is -- | für alle, die dabei sind -- |
| en de stervende. | und den Sterbenden. |
Amsterdam, 2020-11-12
Circumstances (Koos van Zomeren) - 2020
Novel "Omstandigheden"
Collection: Actively Passive
Tribute to: Van Zomeren, Koos
| It is our last chance | |
| of contact, we say nothing: | |
| my hand on his hand. | |
| Onze laatste kans | Die letzte Kontakt |
| op contact, we zeggen niets: | möglichkeit, wir sagen nichts -- |
| mijn hand op zijn hand. | und halten Händchen. |
Amsterdam, 2019-12-26
Love for Father (P.F. Thomése) - 2019
Novel "Vaderliefde", chapter 7
Collection: Finethreads
Tribute to: Thomése, Pieter Frans
|
I think Grandpa knew what dying is |
Amsterdam, 2019-03-25
Painting "Les énervés de Jumièges" ("The de-nerved of Jumièges" / "The sons of Clovis")
Collection: I am
Tribute to: Luminais, Évariste-Vital
|
After others I see myself |
Amsterdam, 2019-01-20
Palliative sedation
Collection: Moons
| They're combing their hair | |
| for a long time, to prepare -- | |
| a beautiful death. | |
| Langdurig kammen | Lange kämmen sie |
| ze hun haar, tot ze klaar zijn -- | sich, bis sie bereit sind für -- |
| voor een mooie dood. | einen schönen Tod. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-05
Thermopylae (Raymond Carver) - 1989
Poem from the collection "A new path to the waterfall"
Collection: Willegos
Tribute to: Carver, Raymond
|
This last night |
Amsterdam, 2017-03-09
The last night that she lived (Emily Dickinson) - 1866
Poem (Franklin #1100, Johnson #1100)
Collection: Moons
Tribute to: Dickinson, Emily
|
She fell down the staircase |
Amsterdam, 2017-03-09
Annie dK (1938-2015)
Collection: Moons
Dedicated to: Annie dK
|
The closing of the sky is the last |
Amsterdam, 2017-03-04
Snell's window - 1621
Collection: WoofWoof
Tribute to: Snel, Willebrord
|
Four organs depart together |
Amsterdam, 2017-02-23
Four organs (Steve Reich) - 1970
Composition, performed in the Organpark on October 6th, 2012, and October 9th, 2011
Collection: ORG anp ark
Composer: Reich, Steve
|
Dying is rarely gentle, but |
Amsterdam, 2017-02-17
Joost Langeveld improvises in the Organpark, with images of the Apocalypse
Collection: ORG anp ark
|
There is a small chance |
Amsterdam, 2017-02-17
Collection: BloodTrunk
|
Dredged up, laid to dry |
Amsterdam, 2016-12-25
Collection: On living on [2]
| That my sweetheart walks | |
| the dog alone from now on -- | |
| Is that it? Dying? | |
| Dat mijn lief alleen | Dass mein Schatz fortan |
| de honden uitlaat voortaan -- | alleine den Hund rauslässt -- |
| Is dat het? Doodgaan? | Ist es das? Sterben? |
Amsterdam, 2013-10-03
The ultimate second (Simon Vestdijk) - 1942
Poem "De uiterste seconde", written in internment camp Sint-Michielsgestel
Collection: Inmost [2]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon
