| Nowhere safe for long, | |
| together night and day, out -- | |
| of fright after fright. | |
| Nergens lang veilig, | Nirgendwo sicher, |
| dag en nacht van schrik op schrik -- | aus Schreck nach Schreck Tag und Nacht -- |
| bij elkaar blijven. | zusammenbleiben. |
Amsterdam, 2025-08-01
The animals living on in uncounted troops (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "De dieren die in ongetelde troepen", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part VII [Acquiescence]), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - July 3rd, 1965, Bologna
Collection: Self-portraits
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| Beware, they say, that | |
| somewhere among us there are -- | |
| enemies hiding. | |
| Het is onveilig, | Es ist unsicher, |
| ergens te midden van ons -- | unter uns verstecken sich -- |
| schuilen vijanden. | Feinde, irgendwo. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-23
The enemy is in the city (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "De vijand is in de stad", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IV [Frida]), and in "Diary 1962-1963" (2007, "Natuurlijk had je gelijk", 10 oktober 1962) - October 4th, 1962, Modena (Poem about herself in response to the kidnapping of the Spanish vice-consul in Milan)
Collection: Old sore
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| I'm licking my wounds, | |
| and I'll have to stay here now -- | |
| I don't dare go back. | |
| Ik lik mijn wonden, | Ich lecke meine |
| hier zal ik moeten blijven -- | Wunden, ich traue mich nicht -- |
| Ik durf niet terug. | zurückzugehen. |
Amsterdam, 2025-07-21
The injured animal (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Poem "Het gekwetste dier", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IV [Frida]), in "Diary 1960-1961" (2006), and in "Diary 1964-1965" (2008) - November 30th, 1960, Bologna
Collection: Old sore
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| The hair dryer hot, | |
| that is what kneeling felt like -- | |
| hours in the full sun. | |
| De föhn op zijn heetst, | Der Föhn auf heiß |
| ja, zo voelde het knielen -- | fühlte sich das Knien an -- |
| uren in de zon. | in voller Sonne. |
Amsterdam, 2025-03-16
Higher physics #3 and #10 (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2019
Poem (collection "Hogere natuurkunde"), pages 23 and 52, 57 - Grandmother (1921-2014) in the Japanese internment camp
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen
| She doesn't talk about | |
| the old days, she only says: | |
| they are at the door. | |
| Ze vertelt nooit iets | Sie erzählt mir nie |
| over vroeger, zegt alleen: | über früher, sagt nur: sie -- |
| ze staan voor de deur. | stehen vor der Tür. |
Amsterdam, 2025-03-16
Higher physics #5 (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2019
Poem (collection "Hogere natuurkunde"), page 33 - Grandmother (1921-2014)
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen
| They will come, that's what | |
| the pantry shows, the food that -- | |
| is slowly spoiling. | |
| Ze zullen komen, | Sie werden kommen, |
| toont de voorraadkast, eten -- | zeigt der Vorrat, das Essen -- |
| dat stilaan bederft. | das langsam verdirbt. |
Amsterdam, 2025-03-16
Higher physics #5 (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2019
Poem (collection "Hogere natuurkunde"), page 33 - Grandmother (1921-2014)
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen
| The child on the bridge | |
| clings to its fear of letting -- | |
| go of the railing. | |
| Het kind op de brug | Auf der Brücke hält |
| klampt zich nog vast aan zijn angst -- | das Kind sich an seine Angst -- |
| om los te laten. | vor dem Loslassen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-23
Bridge diving (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2024
Column "Brugduiken", in the NRC of July 23rd, 2024
Collection: Death on Cast
| Is someone knocking? | |
| Is it the wind? It is dark -- | |
| What is going on? | |
| Wordt er aangeklopt? | Wer klopft an die Tür? |
| Is het de wind? Wat zie je? | Ist es der Wind? Was siehst du? |
| Wat gebeurt er toch? | Was passiert draußen? |
Amsterdam, 2024-07-14
Scene "Was that a knock?" (Victor Hugo / Francesco Maria Piave / Giuseppe Verdi) - 1832
Scene "Si picchia?" from the opera "Rigoletto" (1851, "Rigolo" = funny-man, funny, amusing), third act; based on the play "Le roi s'amuse" (1832, "The king has fun")
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Hugo, Victor; Piave, Francesco Maria
Composer: Verdi, Giuseppe
| I hear him walking | |
| and I keep my eyes closed as -- | |
| he gets into bed. | |
| Ik hoor hem lopen | Ich halte einfach |
| en ik houd mijn ogen dicht -- | die Augen fest geschlossen -- |
| nu hij in bed stapt. | als er ins Bett geht. |
Amsterdam, 2024-05-30
Distracted (Karin Lachmising) - 2019
Poem "Afgeleid" (collection "Zeven rivieren ver")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the 10s
Tribute to: Lachmising, Karin
| Conforming myself, | |
| keeping my mouth shut: my fear -- | |
| won't protect me though. | |
| Mezelf aanpassen | Meinen Mund halten, |
| en mijn mond houden: mijn angst -- | mich anpassen: meine Angst -- |
| biedt geen bescherming. | bietet keinen Schutz. |
Amsterdam, 2024-01-08
The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action (Audre Lorde) - 1977
Essay
Collection: Wean Di
Tribute to: Lorde, Audre
| It is hard to talk | |
| about it, so I'd rather -- | |
| let it stay this way. | |
| Erover praten | Es ist schwer, über |
| is moeilijk, laat het liever -- | das zu reden, lasse es -- |
| toch maar zo blijven. | lieber so bleiben. |
Amsterdam, 2023-12-14
Big Eight (Vrouwkje Tuinman) - 2005
Novel "Grote acht" (route of two circles in dressage), chapter Fourteen (years old)
Collection: Wean Di
Tribute to: Tuinman, Vrouwkje
| The eerie room is, | |
| frightening me with shadows -- | |
| of scary monsters. | |
| De vreemde kamer | Das fremde Zimmer |
| maakt me bang met schaduwen -- | macht mir Angst mit den Schatten -- |
| van enge beesten. | schauriger Tiere. |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-28
Midnight's Children (Salman Rushdie) - 1981
Novel, chapter 1-6 "Many-headed monsters"
Collection: Low gear
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
| He has been hiding | |
| in the basement for three years -- | |
| living like a mouse. | |
| Hij schuilt al jaren | Aus Angst versteckt er |
| in de kelder, bang leeft hij -- | sich seit Jahren im Keller: |
| een muizenleven. | ein Mäuseleben. |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-27
Midnight's Children (Salman Rushdie) - 1981
Novel, chapter 1-3 "Hit-the-spittoon" and 1-4 "Under the carpet"
Collection: Low gear
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman
|
For centuries we lived with our cattle |
Amsterdam, 2023-11-09
Palestinians and Israelis
Deportation: to Assyria
Joshua 8-13 Under the leadership of Joshua ("Salvation"), the Israelites conquer Canaan, eastern Jordan and southern Lebanon, - but not the coastal area of the Philistines: 'Palestine' (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron), - capturing the cattle and killing the people
See also: the poems 2449. With stories we build a nation, and: 1992. The Promised Land (Joshua 24:13 "And I have given you a land for which you did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.")
Collection: A Home
|
The night is safe. Come |
Amsterdam, 2023-05-17
Evil World: Fear (from a gluttonous need for love, comfort and security you fear, thinking you cannot function in the social system)
About gluttony: poem 5203. Evil Child
Collection: The drama
| A giggle echoes | |
| from the cave, door after door -- | |
| is quickly closed up. | |
| Gegiechel weerkaatst | Gekicher erhallt |
| luid de grot uit, deur na deur -- | aus der Höhle, Tür nach Tür -- |
| wordt afgesloten. | wird abgeschlossen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-10-13
Tom Puss and The Mighty Barribal (Marten Toonder) - 1966
Comic strip #113 - "Tom Poes en De Grote Barribal" (tiers 5631-5688), tier 5688
Collection: Puss & Lord
Tribute to: Toonder, Marten
| I don't have a view | |
| at the top of the big wheel: | |
| it sways and it squeaks. | |
| Ik heb geen uitzicht | Oben am Riesen- |
| bovenin het reuzenrad: | rad hab ich keine Aussicht: |
| het schommelt en piept. | es schwankt und es quietscht. |
Noordwijkerhout, 2022-10-04
Fermata (Stella Bergsma) - 2016
Story
Collection: On the fly
Tribute to: Bergsma, Stella
| We are helplessly | |
| squirming, drowning in our fear -- | |
| of the refugees. | |
| Wij spartelen zelf, | Wir selbst ertrinken, |
| verdrinkend in onze angst -- | zappelnd in unserer Angst -- |
| voor vluchtelingen. | vor den Flüchtlingen. |
Amsterdam, 2022-02-08
Évian (Ghayath Almadhoun) - 2017
Poem (collection "Adrenaline" and video "Évian" in 2019)
Collection: Whirligig Scribbler
Tribute to: Almadhoun, Ghayath
| Our nature to keep | |
| our world safe makes us afraid -- | |
| of foreign people. | |
| Je wereld veilig | Du willst deine Welt |
| willen houden maakt je bang -- | sicher halten, du hast Angst -- |
| voor buitenlanders. | vor den Ausländern. |
Amsterdam, 2022-02-08
Évian (Ghayath Almadhoun) - 2017
Poem (collection "Adrenaline" and video "Évian" in 2019)
Évian Conference in 1938 (32 countries) on the Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria, after which the Völkischer Beobachter writes on July 13th: "Keiner will sie haben" ("Nobody wants to have them")
Collection: Whirligig Scribbler
Tribute to: Almadhoun, Ghayath
| If you don't take risks, | |
| you put everything at stake: | |
| you risk all your life. | |
| Juist als je niets durft, | Jeder, der nichts wagt, |
| zet je alles op het spel: | setzt eben alles aufs Spiel: |
| je hele leven. | sein ganzes Leben. |
Amsterdam, 2021-05-16
Fear of flying (Erica Jong) - 1973
Novel
(Also in response to the journal "Let Us Have Faith", 1940, Helen Keller)
Collection: After the festivities
Tribute to: Jong, Erica
| I always race by | |
| the lurking bush over there -- | |
| with its pawing arms. | |
| Ik loop altijd snel | Ich umfliege schnell |
| langs de loerende struiken -- | diese lauernden Büsche -- |
| met hun grijparmen. | mit den Greifarmen. |
Amsterdam, 2020-06-14
Collection: Bruises
| Lie down quietly, | |
| as if nobody lives here -- | |
| then they will not come. | |
| Stil blijven liggen, | Still liegen bleiben, |
| alsof hier niemand meer woont -- | als ob hier niemand mehr lebt -- |
| dan komen ze niet. | dann kommen sie nicht. |
Vlissingen, 2019-06-06
Waking up (Willem van Toorn) - 1963
Poem "Wakker worden" (collection "Kijkdoos")
Collection: Shelter
Tribute to: Van Toorn, Willem
|
For half an hour already |
Amsterdam, 2019-04-20
Collection: Changing Times
| Lightning, dad keeps watch, | |
| I must be silent, I won't -- | |
| make it more angry. | |
| Papa houdt de wacht, | Papa hält Wache, |
| het bliksemt, ik mag die niet -- | Blitzschläge, die darf ich nicht -- |
| nog bozer maken. | wütender machen. |
Amsterdam, 2019-04-17
The escape of Gilles Whalecutter (M.M. Schoenmakers) - 2019
Novel "De vlucht van Gilles Speksneijder"
Collection: Actively Passive
Tribute to: Schoenmakers, M.M.
|
The doctors jump |
Amsterdam, 2018-10-06
Below deck: Hippocampus
Twigs: Dendrites
Collection: Bruises
| I don't show myself, | |
| I avoid prejudices -- | |
| of first impressions. | |
| Ik laat me niet zien, | Ich zeige mich nicht, |
| ik mijd vooroordelen, mijd -- | vermeide Vorurteile -- |
| de eerste indruk. | des ersten Eindrucks. |
Amsterdam, 2018-01-02
Collection: The climbing house
| They gave me a house, | |
| money, and time that I waste -- | |
| Afraid. Insecure. | |
| Ik kreeg een woning, | Ich hab ein Haus, Geld, |
| geld, en tijd die ik verdoe -- | und Zeit, die ich verschwende -- |
| Bang. Besluiteloos. | Ängstlich. Unschlüssig. |
Amsterdam, 2017-09-14
Psychiatric diary (Bert Weijde) - 1994
"Psychiatrisch dagboek", March-July 1962 in Amsterdam
Collection: Shelter
Tribute to: Weijde, Bert
| I am a doer, | |
| not a talker, and I choose -- | |
| to play wait and see. | |
| Ik ben een doener, | Ich bin ein Macher, |
| geen prater, ik kies ervoor -- | kein Schwätzer, ich ziehe vor -- |
| om af te wachten. | um ab zu warten. |
Amsterdam, 2017-07-02
Inside the skin (Han Voskuil) - 2009
Novel "Binnen de huid"
Collection: Dirty hands
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han
| I hardly dare to | |
| do something, afraid to be -- | |
| a dupe of myself. | |
| Ik durf nauwelijks | Ich wage es nicht |
| iets te doen, bang van mezelf -- | etwas zu tun, aus Angst, selbst -- |
| de dupe te zijn. | den Preis zu zahlen. |
Amsterdam, 2017-06-30
Inside the skin (Han Voskuil) - 2009
Novel "Binnen de huid"
Collection: Dirty hands
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han
|
You would close your eyes |
Amsterdam, 2017-02-15
Collection: BloodTrunk
| My beautiful view! | |
| I protect it from robbers -- | |
| with heavy shutters. | |
| Mijn mooie uitzicht | Ich schütze meine |
| bescherm ik tegen rovers -- | schöne Aussicht vor Räubern -- |
| met zware luiken. | mit schweren Läden. |
Amsterdam, 2016-11-13
Sir Bumble and The Trick of The Snipme (Marten Toonder) - 1951
Comic strip #45 - Heer Bommel en De Kneep van Knipmenis (tiers 1373-1423), tier 1384
Collection: Puss & Lord
Tribute to: Toonder, Marten
| Fairytale noises | |
| in the woods make fairytales -- | |
| quite real, I'm afraid. | |
| Sprookjesgeluiden | Märchengeräusche |
| in het bos maken sprookjes -- | im Wald machen Märchen wahr -- |
| echt waar, ben ik bang. | fürchte ich wirklich. |
Amsterdam, 2013-10-06
Collection: Local traffic
| I hear mum and dad | |
| coming home, they stumble, now -- | |
| I can go to sleep. | |
| Papa en mama | Mama und Papa |
| komen stommelend thuis, nu -- | kommen nach Hause, erst jetzt -- |
| kan ik gaan slapen. | kan ich schlafen geh'n. |
Amsterdam, 2012-03-05
Collection: Life line
|
It is dark |
Amsterdam, 2005-08-03
Collection: Life line
