Strive for happiness

and you'll be unhappy, for --


it is not lasting.


Wie naar geluk streeft,Wer nach Glück strebt, macht
wordt ongelukkig omdat --sich selbst unglücklich, denn es --

het niet blijvend is.ist nicht von Dauer.

Poem S3203
Amsterdam, 2026-07-15
The Art of Being Unhappy (Dirk de Wachter) - 2019
Psychological explanation "De kunst van het ongelukkig zijn"
Collection: Willegos
Tribute to: De Wachter, Dirk 
 

Not happy with you,

and not unhappy either:


I simply need you.


Niet gelukkig zijnWeder glücklich sein
met jou, noch ongelukkig:mit dir, noch unglücklich: ich --

ik heb je nodig.brauche dich einfach.

Poem H5845
Amsterdam, 2025-08-18
Diary 1970-1971 (Frida Vogels) - 2011
"Dagboek 1970-1971" - October 18th, 1970, Bologna
Collection: Lookout
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Happiness, what's that?

It has many names, little --


of them is correct.


Geluk, wat is dat?Glück, was ist das? Es
Het heeft zovele namen --hat viele Namen, wenig --

waar weinig van klopt.daran ist richtig.

Poem S2478
Amsterdam, 2024-12-15
The Green Knight (Iris Murdoch) - 1993
Novel, chapter 4 Eros
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

With you in this bed

I'm happy in a sad way --


You're there, you're leaving.


Met jou in dit bedMit dir hier im Bett
ben ik bedroefd gelukkig --bin ich glücklich und traurig --

Je bent er, je gaat.Du bist da, du gehst.

Poem H4003
Amsterdam, 2023-07-31
The PowerBook (Jeanette Winterson) - 2000
Novel, chapter "HELP"
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

Happiness drugs you

until it vanishes like --


expensive perfume.


Geluk bedwelmt jeGlück ist berauschend,
totdat het vervluchtigd is --bis es sich mal verflüchtigt --

als dure parfum.wie teures Parfüm.

Poem S1340
Amsterdam, 2022-02-15
The rat of Amsterdam (Pieter Waterdrinker) - 2020
Novel "De rat van Amsterdam"
Collection: On the fly
Tribute to: Waterdrinker, Pieter 
 

There are no best years,

they're different, all of them --


are most beautiful.


Er zijn geen mooisteNein, keine schönsten
jaren, alles is anders --Jahre, alles ist immer --

het mooist van alles.anders das schönste.

Poem H3072
Amsterdam, 2021-10-16
Collection: Changing Times
Dedicated to: Maria Godschalk 
 

From the Isle of Muck

once disappeared Lady Luck --


Grab her, she is blind!


Uit Steenwijker TukEinst aus Osnabrück
verdween ooit Vrouwe Geluk --ist sie verschwunden, Frau Glück --

Grijp haar, ze is blind!Greif sie, sie ist blind!

Poem S0933
Amsterdam, 2019-09-24
Through the water surface (Tomas Lieske) - 2014
Novel "Door de waterspiegel"
Collection: Chance
Tribute to: Lieske, Tomas 
 

Zywa Happiness is a bird

He lived in prosperity
and wished to make a contract
with his god to keep it that way

because he still made sacrifices
without certainty what he would get in return
knowing that happiness is a bird

that chooses itself where to rest
and which babies to feed
He was afraid

that it would fly away
and decided to make an extra sacrifice
of his entire household

All men and boys had to
conform to his will and
the rainbow sealed it

Poem 2303
Amsterdam, 2019-06-25
Abraham
Collection: A Home
 

First, in the future,

then in the past: happiness --


flees, it knows no time.


Eerst in de toekomst,In der Zukunft, und
daarna in het verleden:auch in der Vergangenheit:

geluk kent geen tijd.Glück kennt keine Zeit.

Poem H2455
Amsterdam, 2019-05-07
The china shop - Faxing to Ger #2 (Nicolien Mizee) - 2018
Diary-novel "De porseleinkast - Faxen aan Ger"
Collection: In the shadow
Tribute to: Mizee, Nicolien 
 

I believe in you,

my life, my work, everything --


is perfect: what now?


Ik geloof in jou,Ich glaube an dich,
mijn leven, mijn werk, alles --mein Leben, meine Arbeit --

is volmaakt: wat nu?alles gut: was nun?

Poem H1903
Amsterdam, 2017-12-16
Collection: Webgarden
 

The illusion of

happiness is happiness --


that is not lasting.


De illusie vanJa, die Illusion
geluk is geluk, geluk --von Glück ist Glück, ein Glück, das --

dat niet blijft duren.nicht von Dauer ist.

Poem H1774
Ufhusen, 2017-08-24
Diary 1954-1957 (Frida Vogels) - 2005
"Dagboek 1954-1957" - March 24th, 1955, Milan, and September 13th, 1956, Rome
Collection: ThereFrom
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Good luck is often

missing, so what can I do --


but rely on it?


Geluk ontbreekt vaakGlück fehlt oft, also
dus wat kan ik anders dan --was kann ich anders als mich --

erop vertrouwen?darauf verlassen?

Poem H1637
Amsterdam, 2016-12-28
Sir Bumble and The Great Receiver (Marten Toonder) - 1977
Comic strip #157 - Heer Bommel en De Grote Onthaler (tiers 8727-8840, 8840A-8841, as a book 8915-10000), tier 8814
Collection: Puss & Lord
Tribute to: Toonder, Marten 
 

I was not okay

in those days, now I see more --


happiness back then.


Het ging toen niet goedMir ging es nicht gut,
met mij, maar nu zie ik meer --damals, jetzt sehe ich mehr --

geluk in die tijd.Glück in dieser Zeit.

Poem S0212
Amsterdam, 2014-05-29
Happy years (Daniele Luchetti) - 2013
Film "Anni felici": comment by Dario, played by Samuel Garofalo
Collection: Secrets & Believers
Tribute to: Luchetti, Daniele 
 

Zywa
Keyword
Happiness (vague, volatile)
GermanDutch5-7-5
PencilPumiceRainLoves
CompressedBirdsIflessPhoto
TributesDedicationsComposersHome
Attention is like sunshineMention © Zywa when using texts,
drawings, designs, paintings and photos
Search word:  CTRL-F