A postcard from Liz,

sent by Caroline, but still --


from Liz, that is nice.


Een briefkaart van Els,Postkarte von Liesl,
gestuurd door Carla, maar toch --geschickt von Karla, trotzdem --

van Els, dat is fijn.von Liesl, das ist nett.

Poem H5876
Amsterdam, 2025-08-25
Diary 1972-1973 (Frida Vogels) - 2012
"Dagboek 1972-1973" - July 9th, 1972, Bologna
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

On my visit, the

atmosphere is embarrassed --


after all these years.


Tijdens mijn bezoekZu Besuch: bestürzt
is de sfeer wat bedremmeld --ist die Atmosphäre nach --

na al die jaren.all diesen Jahren.

Poem H5669
Amsterdam, 2025-07-06
In foreign parts - Chronicles (Frida Vogels) - 2024
Autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken", chapter 'Herbert' - May 25th, 1976, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

I write about you

so as not to lose you, so --


as to be with you.


Ik schrijf over jouIch schreibe über
om jou niet te verliezen --dich, will dich nicht verlieren --

Om bij jou te zijn.möchte bei dir sein.

Poem H5661
Amsterdam, 2025-07-05
In foreign parts - Chronicles (Frida Vogels) - 2024
Autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken", chapter 'Een vriendin in Rome' (A friend in Rome) - January 9th, 1974, Amsterdam
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Our divorce party

is great, it definitely --


bonds us together.


Ons echtscheidingsfeestUnsere Scheidungs-
is geweldig, verbindt ons --party ist toll, verbindet --

voorgoed met elkaar.uns miteinander.

Poem H5206
Amsterdam, 2025-01-27
You can't stop summer either (Dimitri Verhulst) - 2015
Novella "De zomer hou je ook niet tegen", page 85
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Verhulst, Dimitri 
 

Feelings you go through

and thoughts you think leave a trace --


in my poetry.


Wat jij zoal denktWas du so durchmachst
en doormaakt laat een spoor na --und denkst, hinterlässt Spuren --

in mijn gedichten.in meiner Dichtung.

Poem H5070
Amsterdam, 2024-11-14
Collection: Webgarden
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

You can't say farewell

to a friend, you can only --


do that in your mind.


Van een vriend kun jeVon einem Freund kann
geen afscheid nemen, hoogstens --man sich nicht verabschieden --

in je gedachten.nur in Gedanken.

Poem H5053
Amsterdam, 2024-11-09
Collection: web tissue
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

I want to see you,

that's it, you really don't have --


to be sociable.


Ik wil je graag zien,Ich will dich sehen,
dat is alles, je hoeft niet --das ist alles, du musst ja --

gezellig te zijn.nicht gesellig sein.

Poem H5007
Amsterdam, 2024-10-24
I kiss your hands a thousand times - Faxing to Ger #6 (Nicolien Mizee) - 2024
Diary novel "Ik kus uw handen duizendmaal - Faxen aan Ger #6", November 6th, 2000
Collection: In the shadow
Tribute to: Mizee, Nicolien 
 

Calmly connected,

sharing experiences --


every now and then.


Zwijgend verbonden,Schweigend verbunden,
af en toe een ervaring --ab und zu ein Erlebnis --

met elkaar delen.das wir austauschen.

Poem H4976
Amsterdam, 2024-10-13
Collection: More
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

I don't have to dress

up for him, he is okay --


a family friend.


Ik hoef me voor hemIch muss mich für ihn
niet netjes aan te kleden --nicht schick machen, schon lange --

hij is een huisvriend.ist er ein Hausfreund.

Poem H4892
Amsterdam, 2024-09-01
The Message to the Planet (Iris Murdoch) - 1989
Novel, part Three
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

In part, a friendship

quietly ongoing can --


be rather hostile.


Vriendschappen kunnenFreundschaften können
rustig voortkabbelen en --leise weitergehend teil-

deels vijandig zijn.weise feindlich sein.

Poem S2318
Amsterdam, 2024-08-24
The Black Prince (Iris Murdoch) - 1973
Comical novel, A Celebration of Love, part One
Collection: Dreams of love
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

The air between us

blows into us at times, then --


we touch each other.


Veel lucht tussen ons,Viel Luft zwischen uns,
bij vlagen waait hij binnen --dann und wann weht sie in uns --

raken we elkaar.berühren wir uns.

Poem H4292
Amsterdam, 2023-11-19
Collection: The climbing house
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Warm as the sun are

my friends, though, their attention --


reluctantly veiled.


Warm als de zon zijnWarm wie die Sonne,
mijn vrienden, ach, hun aandacht --ihre Aufmerksamkeit, ach --

gaat onwillig schuil.zögernd verborgen.

Poem H4236
Amsterdam, 2023-10-20
Collection: Moons
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Two teenage girls sit-

ting opposite each other --


form a closed circle.


Twee meisjes zittenZwei Mädchen sitzen
recht tegenover elkaar:einander gegenüber:

een gesloten kring.geschlossener Kreis.

Poem H3947
Amsterdam, 2023-07-13
Finder's keepers (Lize Spit)
Novella "De eerlijke vinder", part II
Collection: Shelter
 

The songs of that time

were our world, the places where --


we saw each other.


De liedjes van toenDie Songs von damals
waren onze wereld, daar --waren unsere Welt, dar-

zagen we elkaar.in trafen wir uns.

Poem H3902
Amsterdam, 2023-06-29
The filling station on the route - 2 (Jan Baeke) - 2013
Poem "Het tankstation op de route" - 2 (collection "Het tankstation op de route")
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Baeke, Jan 
 

He really can't be

a bad influence on me --


for he is my friend.


Een slechte invloedJedenfalls kann sein
kan hij op mij niet hebben --Einfluss auf mich nicht schlecht sein --

want hij is mijn vriend.denn er ist mein Freund.

Poem S1759
Amsterdam, 2023-05-12
Surrogates for Murk Tuinstra - The history of a friendship (Simon Vestdijk) - 1948
Novel "Surrogaten voor Murk Tuinstra - De geschiedenis van een vriendschap", chapter 3-5 (AD 1911)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

Zywa Open endings

Not grown apart
still familiar, changed
by each other's attention
Grown along in the other
in who we are

For everything
there can be a time
For slow days
For closer to home
For constantly creating order
For new projects
and old friends

Occasionally
a message
without a hold
on whether it fits
in the moment
and falls, falls
into place

Occasionally
the nearness
of our voices
our most unique selves
talking freely
with open endings
for other times

Poem 5151
Amsterdam, 2023-05-03
Collection: Dearme
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Of your friends you know

even blindfolded, groping --


easily who's who.


Van vrienden weet jeVon Freunde weiß man
ook geblinddoekt, op de tast --mit Augenbinde, tastend --

meteen wie wie is.sofort, wer wer ist.

Poem H3786
Amsterdam, 2023-04-03
The immensity (Emanuele Crialese) - 2022
Film "L'immensità"
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
Tribute to: Crialese, Emanuele 
 

I pity old friends:

the old memories they share --


can be so hurtful.


Ach, oude vrienden:Ach, alte Freunde:
oude herinneringen --alte Erinnerungen --

kunnen hen kwetsen.können verletzen.

Poem S1568
Amsterdam, 2022-11-16
The Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) - 1988
Novel, chapter III. L-O-N-D-O-N §4
Collection: Sludge
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman 
 

When you're not at home

I can find you by the sea --


the comforting sea.


Als jij niet thuis bentWenn du nicht da bist,
kan ik jou vinden aan zee --kann ich dich am Meer finden --

de troostende zee.das tröstende Meer.

Poem H3344
Amsterdam, 2022-06-23
On a summer hit #3 (Astrid Roemer) - 2015
Poem "Op een zomerhit" #3 (in De Gids No. 3, 2015)
Collection: Moist glow
Tribute to: Roemer, Astrid 
 

Bring our friend home,

go to him, bring him around --


with all my ardour!


Breng onze vriend thuis,Bringt unseren Freund
ga op reis, overreed hem --Heim, geht, überredet ihn --

met al mijn liefde!mit meiner Liebe!

Poem H3185
Amsterdam, 2022-01-28
Ghazal 163 "Go, my friends" (Muhammad Rumi) - 1247
Collection: Love Mind and Death
Tribute to: Rumi, Mohamed 
 

Zywa Timing

Love and friendship
are sometimes laborious
There is no connection
You are too early or too late
You don't match up

But in the scraping
when passing
there is contact and you stay
connected, mutually
a piece

of the world that just continues
There is attention
which you need, even
if it is lost upon you
Because you want to know for sure

you want to feel
and cherish
that the love
the friendship
is real

Poem 4261
Amsterdam, 2021-12-27
Collection: More
 

My soul wears a ring

to all its fingers, the rings --


of a lot of friends.


Mijn ziel draagt een ringMeine Seele trägt
aan al haar vingers, ringen --allen Fingern einen Ring --

van vele vrienden.von vielen Freunden.

Poem H3096
Egmond aan Zee, 2021-10-27
Collection: Dearme
 

Zywa Belonging [1]

I want to belong
just
laugh together
and keep talking

whisper in the warmth
of each other's blood
safe in the insecurity
of life

that hits friends and takes them away
from the chain dance -- to the last
we hold them
hand in hand

I don't lock me up
in guarantees and fear
I bump and dent me outside
in the storm, together

with warriors
who do not hide
from the fate of others
because they belong

Poem 3973
Amsterdam, 2021-10-02
Collection: Dearme
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Zywa Suns around each other

Your journey takes you further
and further away, maybe
we'll only see each other on a screen
maybe we'll only meet in words

We remain the same
we remain equally strong-
ly connected, but
I rather have you at my

home, at your home --
bodies with our voices
the blonde hairs on our skin
the same scents in our mind

You are always close
when I hear you, when I read you
yet you are there
I know about where

My feelings follow you
they circle with the others
at your side, as suns
around your suns

Poem 3940
Amsterdam, 2021-09-21
Collection: Lilith's Powers
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Zywa The light shifts through the room

In bed I don't imagine
to be a warrior, I lie back
and let the disaster year occur

the inconveniences of my body
when waking up at night
and when it's time

to pee, to wash, to shake
up the pillows and to drink
something to start

the day, the light
that shifts through the room
and the visitors, the friends

who love me, just happy
to be with me, almost carefree
about my fate, just being themselves

as good fairies, strong fairies
of flesh and blood like me
in the survival game

I press weakly the hand
upon my hand, it's the last
thing it comes down to

Poem 3937
Amsterdam, 2021-09-20
"Beyond Reason - Beyond Guidance - Beyond Salvation" (Disaster Year 1678 in the Netherlands)
Collection: On living on [1]
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Zywa Friends, Peace

My friend, my peace
with you, I eat, I drink --
carefree about what I like
to eat, drink and do

My friend, my peace
with how it goes --
the help I need
and the attention I do not give

My friend, my peace
with whom I am, shamefree --
past puberty for a long time
I don't have to hide anything anymore

My friend, my peace
You see me, I see you --
wherever we are
we are not alone

My friend, my peace
I don't have to give you anything --
I am there myself, just like you, both
we know who we are

Poem 3929
Amsterdam, 2021-09-02
Collection: Without reserve
 

No goodbye: we stay

together, cheerful, nothing --


is for the last time.


Geen afscheid: vrolijkKein Abschied: fröhlich
samen zijn, nooit voor het laatst --sind wir, nie zum letzten Mal --

iets zeggen of doen.was sagen, was tun.

Poem H3025
Amsterdam, 2021-08-21
Collection: Dearme
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

Familiar and close

is the body of a friend --


right from the first time.


Vertrouwd en intiemVertraut und intim
is het lichaam van een vriend --sind die Körper von Freunden --

al de eerste keer.schon beim ersten Mal.

Poem H2690
Amsterdam, 2020-05-02
In dream a man walked (Willem Thies) - 2020
Gedicht "In droom een man wandelde" (collection "Schoon"), inspired by "Resort" (1962, George Oppen)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2020-2029
Tribute to: Thies, Willem; Oppen, George 
 

Zywa Coming together, being together

I crossed this river
now I will

see other people again, love
again, get something done
if I can, fight if necessary

achieve new goals
celebrate other parties
and follow my own paths

But tomorrow or later
we'll come together again
by the fire of our friendship

smoldering
flaring up
unquenchable

Poem 1830
Amsterdam, 2018-09-02
Collection: Lilith's Powers
 

Zywa Be stuck

Watching films
at the end of the year:
how it can be, how it should be
and, at home, not is?

Plenty of examples!
I am searching and finding
people and friends
I need

including myself -
in their feelings, and their need
for me, that's how we remain
stuck to each other

celebrating
the happiness
that bleeds from our hearts
and mingles

Poem 1621
Amsterdam, 2017-11-18
Collection: Summer birds
 

Zywa Angel's chicks

We didn't need anything
we just bumped against each other
and lay together, if so, a nest
of friends, who know to find each other
no matter how far we've flown out

Become angels, who would have thought!

Our soul connection
so familiar at first sight
at each reunion - forever young
is my chicken heart then, my skin
of flesh and blood, forever young

our spirit - but oddly
detached are our wings
our cheeks and the air kisses
that escape my lips
or have transcended them

Poem 1393
Amsterdam, 2017-06-05
Collection: Greeting from before
 

Zywa Friends

Sometimes the moon is round
sometimes she is a boat
in which I can sail up

when I go to sleep, and then
you are sailing with me
to the sun

of the next day
We wave to the stars
to the great and the little

Bear and Sirius the Dog
and we sprinkle kisses
to the people

with sparkles in all colours
of very nice dreams
about having fun with friends

helping each other, living
together, because that's me
such a friend, your friend

Poem 1341
Amsterdam, 2017-05-10
Collection: Without reserve
Dedicated to: Lotte W 
 

Those who don't conform,

are outside of society --


I can be their friend.


Wie zich niet aanpast,Wer sich nicht anpasst,
valt buiten de maatschappij --wird einfach ausgeschlossen --

Ik kan hun vriend zijn.Ich kann sein Freund sein.

Poem S0473
Amsterdam, 2017-04-15
The Office - Mister Beerta (Han Voskuil) - 1996
Novel "Het Bureau - Meneer Beerta" - 1959
Collection: Dirty hands
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han 
 

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