Zywa

We go on solving

problems till there are no more --

inconveniences.



Problemen blijven	Probleme lösen
we oplossen tot er geen --	wir so lange, bis alles --

ongemak meer is.	komfortabel ist.

Poem H5688
Amsterdam, 2025-07-15
Due to a silver shortage, Sweden began using copper plates as currency in 1644, known as kopparplåtmynt. Because their weight was inconvenient, the Stockholms Banco issued securities in 1661, backed by copper plates. This continued until 1665. From 1666 to 1668, banknotes were issued with silver coins as collateral. After that, paper money became common currency.
Collection: Local inconveniences

I am curious

about others, as their lives --

are almost like mine.



Ik ben nieuwsgierig	Ich bin neugierig
naar anderen, hun levens --	auf andere, ihr Leben --

zijn als het mijne.	ist fast wie meines.

Poem H5473
Amsterdam, 2025-05-17
Three Colours: Red - Fraternity (Krzysztof Kieslowski) - 1994
Film "Trois couleurs: Rouge" - Fraternité
The genetic, social and cultural brotherhood of humans
Collection: The drama
Tribute to: Kieslowski, Krzysztof

The heart as a drum,

and the mouth as a trumpet:

that's a human life.



Het hart als trommel	Das Herz als Trommel,
en de mond als een trompet:	der Mund eine Trompete:

een mensenleven.	ein Menschenleben.

Poem H5241
Amsterdam, 2025-02-10
Thus have I rolled my life (Muso Soseki) - 1351
Poem by the Zen-monk Muso Soseki (1274-1351), included in the 1986 collection "Japanese Death Poems", compiled by Yoel Hoffmann: "Thus have I rolled my life throughout / inside and out, reclined, upright / What is all this? / A beating drum / a trumpets blare / No more"
Collection: Thinkles Lusionless
Tribute to: Muso, Soseki

Zywa Patterns

Whether they were clouds
birds, or tea leaves
people searched
under the tides, the seasons

and the migration of the flocks
for more
patterns as a hold
against sudden dangers

That is their own
pattern, I too
can be myself
and rely

on evolutionary wisdom
which with all the stupidity
and adversity will continue
to make the best of it

and on human resources
developed from the need
for everything going to be okay
even if it is not possible

Poem 5351
Amsterdam, 2023-10-29
Collection: New Ago
Dedicated to: Marije S

Zywa Gatherings

To observe the harmony
and beauty of people
in a village or a city
you must build a tower

For from close up you smell only
the friction surfaces and the laws
of attraction and repulsion
of souls that feel

they are one without knowing
how that works, how it can be
organised:
countless small groups

and gatherings
in whatever clothes
which, precisely when they
grow large, fall apart again

Poem 4580
Amsterdam, 2022-07-11
Collection: The drama

Zywa Moving sideways

Man admires the starry sky
the flourishing earth and himself
and asks himself:

Could creation be better?
Could we be more human?
Every day

man is taking care
of himself and his neighbours:
morality is good

It does not move backward
or forward, nor up or down
but sideways

to and fro, from person to person
between hard and soft, joys and sorrows
young and old

and between wise and foolish
Could one arrange for there to be
only wise people?

Poem 2179
Amsterdam, 2019-03-24
Collection: The drama

Zywa Connected in our imagination

My words and poses
my taste and helpfulness, all of it
has been demonstrated to me, time after time

Together we are a copy of people
who together were also a copy
of people of people

unique collections
of ordinary habits
and general peculiarities

in a temporary body
that draws a boundary
between you and me

between all souls and senses:
for a multitude of experiences
that we can share with each other

to erase the boundaries again
being connected in our imagination
and to be more than ourselves

Poem 1959
Amsterdam, 2018-12-05
Collection: Metamorphic body
Dedicated to: Ellen H

Zywa Humans are noble

Ducklings swim around in the water
Goose always are keeping pace
But humans are a noble race:
they worry about the future

The present plays a role as well, only
no one knows what is important, where
does our life's path lead, why are we
on earth, what is good for you and me?

On the big picture, we rarely agree
And the details, we cannot resolve
It is funny but true:
we do not like that

Humans are a talking race
that thrives well in its swamp
of fuss and having the last word
that everyone wants to have said, not heard

Poem 233
Amsterdam, 2014-04-28
Collection: New Ago

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