We are fire, two fires;

still a bit shy, our flames are --


licking each other.


Twee vuren zijn zij,Wir sind zwei Feuer,
nog wat verlegen likken --noch etwas scheu lecken sich --

de vlammen elkaar.unsere Flammen.

Poem H6279
Amsterdam, 2026-05-23
Fire against fire (Carlos Gómez / Mariano Pérez) - 1991
Composition "Fuego contra fuego", performed in the Organpark on May 23rd, 2026, by Fuensenta Méndez, Anna Serierse, Marta Arpini, Leva Dumpe, Laura Polence (singing), Ben van Gelder (saxofoon), Kit Downes (organ), Wouter Kühne (percussion), Tijs Klaassen (double bass)
Collection: org anp ARK 
Tribute to: Gómez, Carlos 
Composer: Pérez, Mariano 
 

I'd like to know you,

oh, there's so much more I'd like --


to know about you.


Ik wil jou kennen,Erkunden möchte
oh, nog zo veel meer wil ik --ich dich, alles möchte ich --

over jou weten.über dich wissen.

Poem H6135
Amsterdam, 2026-03-06
Minute of silence (Siegfried Lenz) - 2008
Novella "Schweigeminute"
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Lenz, Siegfried 
 

Oh, your shirt, it's so

beautiful! And that fabric --


I need to feel it!


Oh, jouw overhemd,Oh, dein Oberhemd,
wat mooi! En die stof, mag ik --wunderschön! Und dieser Stoff --

het even voelen?Darf ich ihn fühlen?

Poem H6048
Amsterdam, 2026-01-15
Within the skin (Han Voskuil) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Binnen de huid" (written 1964-1967), chapter 18 - October 22nd, 1954, Deventer
Collection: Elude
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han 
 

She takes my hand with

the glass, brings it to her mouth --


and looks, looks at me.


Ze pakt mijn hand metSie nimmt meine Hand
het glas, brengt het naar haar mond --mit dem Glas, führt es zum Mund --

en kijkt, kijkt mij aan.und schaut, schaut mich an.

Poem H6046
Amsterdam, 2026-01-14
Within the skin (Han Voskuil) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Binnen de huid" (written 1964-1967), chapter 14 - August 1954, Deventer
Collection: Elude
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han 
 

Close to me, she takes

time to wipe the coffee stain --


out of my dress shirt.


Dicht tegen mij aanGanz nah bei mir wischt
poetst ze het koffievlekje --sie den Kaffeefleck lange --

uit mijn overhemd.Zeit aus meinem Hemd.

Poem H6047
Amsterdam, 2026-01-14
Within the skin (Han Voskuil) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Binnen de huid" (written 1964-1967), chapter 14 - August 1954, Deventer
Collection: Elude
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han 
 

Her internet friend

travels with us, put in front --


of the train window.


Haar internetvriendIhr Internetfreund
reist mee, hij staat gezellig --reist mit, gemütlich vor das --

tegen het treinraam.Zugfenster gestellt.

Poem S3031
Amsterdam, 2025-12-19
Digital Desire I (Merel van Slobbe) - 2023
Poem "Digitaal verlangen I", collection "De maan schijnt feller in de metaverse" ("The moon shines brighter in the metaverse")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2020-2029
Tribute to: Van Slobbe, Merel 
 

He wanted to romp

with me, that's what he called it --


and I was startled.


Hij wilde met mijEr wollte mir mir
stoeien, zo noemde hij het --balgen, so nannte er es --

en ik schrok daarvan.Es hat mich erschreckt.

Poem S2752
Amsterdam, 2025-07-06
In foreign parts - Chronicles (Frida Vogels) - 2024
Autobiography "In den vreemde - Kronieken", chapter 'Herbert' - May 23rd, 1976, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

The talking falters,

that's why I burn poplar wood --


that always crackles.


Ons gesprek stokt, dusUnser Gespräch stockt,
stook ik populierenhout --deshalb verbrenne ich Holz --

dat altijd knettert.das immer knistert.

Poem H5263
Amsterdam, 2025-02-20
Under the bushel (Maarten 't Hart) - 1991
Novel "Onder de korenmaat", chapter 4
Collection: The Note Tree
Tribute to: T Hart, Maarten 
 

I say about us:

I'm under no illusions --


That gives me away.


Ik zeg over ons:Über uns sag ich:
ik maak me geen illusies --ich setz mich nichts in den Kopf --

Zo geef ik me bloot.Und das verrät mich.

Poem H5162
Amsterdam, 2025-01-14
a word child (Iris Murdoch) - 1975
Novel, chapter Thursday [5]
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

You are beautiful,

don't let anyone fool you --


he says rather wrong.


Je bent geweldigDu bist wirklich schön,
mooi, laat je niets wijsmaken --lass dich nur nichts einreden --

zegt hij heel verkeerd.sagt er ziemlich falsch.

Poem H4767
Amsterdam, 2024-07-13
To order (Gerda Blees) - 2024
Short story "Tot de orde" (in the VPRO broadcasting-guide no. 28-29, 2024)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2020-2029
Tribute to: Blees, Gerda 
 

Only when I know

you without amorousness --


will you see my love.


Pas als ik jou kenErst wenn Verliebtheit
en mijn verliefdheid ophoudt --vorbei ist, wirst du meine --

zie jij mijn liefde.Liebe bemerken.

Poem H4287
Amsterdam, 2023-11-16
Lohengrin (Richard Wagner) - 1848
Elsa of Brabant in relation to her brother Godfrey and the Knight of the Swan; opera "Lohengrin" (premiere 1850)
Collection: Froend
Composer: Wagner, Richard 
 

In the summer we

dive, into each other's eyes --


each other's bodies.


's Zomers duiken weIm Sommer tauchen
als nieuw in elkaars ogen --wir, die Augen in Augen --

lichaam in lichaam.Körper in Körper.

Poem H4233
Amsterdam, 2023-10-19
Midsummer (Louise Glück) - 2008
Poem, published in "Poetry" (February 2008) and in the collection "A Village Life" (2009)
Collection: Stream
Tribute to: Glück, Louise 
 

The second time was

a failure, but afterwards --


I loved her again.


De tweede keer vielDas zweite Mal war
erg tegen, maar na afloop --kein Erfolg, danach war ich --

was ik weer verliefd.immerhin verliebt.

Poem S1806
Amsterdam, 2023-06-24
The free bird and its cages - The history of a donicile (Simon Vestdijk) - 1957
Roman "De vrije vogel en zijn kooien - De geschiedenis van een domicilie", chapter 3-3 [1920]
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

My eyes keep slipping

off from her face, to some stones --


with grass between them.


Mijn blikken glijdenMein Blick glitt immer
steeds van haar af, naar stenen --von ihr ab, zu den Steinen --

met gras ertussen.mit Gras dazwischen.

Poem H3857
Amsterdam, 2023-06-17
Child between four women (Simon Vestdijk) - 1972
Novel "Kind tussen vier vrouwen", written in 1933, § 11; novel "Terug tot Ina Damman - De geschiedenis van een jeugdliefde", chapter 2-1 (AD 1912)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

Teens in the school yard

like to play with the soft balls --


of being in love.


Tieners op het pleinTeenager im Hof
spelen graag met de ballen --spielen gern mit den Bällen --

van het verliefd zijn.ihres Verliebtseins.

Poem H3835
Amsterdam, 2023-05-26
Back to Ina Damman - The history of an adolescent love (Simon Vestdijk) - 1934
Novel "Terug tot Ina Damman - De geschiedenis van een jeugdliefde", chapter 3-3 (AD 1915)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

My first love poem

is a grand sonnet of praise --


to spring in her smile.


Mijn eerste liefdes-Mein erstes Liebes-
gedicht is een groots loflied --gedicht ist ein Lobgesang --

op haar lentelach.auf ihren Frühling.

Poem H3831
Amsterdam, 2023-05-25
Back to Ina Damman - The history of an adolescent love (Simon Vestdijk) - 1934
Lyrical nature poetry
Novel "Terug tot Ina Damman - De geschiedenis van een jeugdliefde", chapter 3-3 (AD 1915)

Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

Popular detours

surround the city centre:


the flirtation roads.


Er zijn omwegenEs gibt Umwegen
rond het centrum van de stad:um die Innenstadt herum:

de scharrelwegen.Liebeleistraßen.

Poem H3832
Amsterdam, 2023-05-25
Child between four women (Simon Vestdijk) - 1972
Novel "Kind tussen vier vrouwen", § 12; novel "Terug tot Ina Damman - De geschiedenis van een jeugdliefde" (1934), chapter 3-4 (AD 1914)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

From behind she hits

me with a twig: well, come on!


Come on with that kiss!


Achterlangs slaat zeVon hinten schlägt sie
me met een takje: vooruit!mich mit einem Zweig: na los!

Kom op met die kus!Komm schon mit dem Kuss!

Poem H3834
Amsterdam, 2023-05-25
Back to Ina Damman - The history of an adolescent love (Simon Vestdijk) - 1934
Novel "Terug tot Ina Damman - De geschiedenis van een jeugdliefde", chapter 3-5 (AD 1915)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

Her hand pinches mine,

silent amorous feelings --


expressed in Morse code.


Ze knijpt in mijn hand,Sie drückt meine Hand,
stille liefdesgevoelens --Gefühle der Verliebtheit --

in morsetekens.in Morsezeichen.

Poem H3180
Amsterdam, 2022-01-24
Poubelle (Pieter Waterdrinker) - 2016
Novel ("Waste container")
Also in the novel "The rat of Amsterdam"

Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Waterdrinker, Pieter 
 

I play zither well,

but I make a few mistakes --


then he looks at me.


Ik speel goed citer,Ich spiel' gut Zither,
maar maak af en toe een fout --aber mache auch Fehler --

dan kijkt hij naar mij.dann sieht er mich an.

Poem H2799
Amsterdam, 2020-10-10
She plays the zither (Duan Li) - 770
Collection: Love Mind and Death
Tribute to: Li, Duan 
 

Zywa 1.5m fire

Hey, there you are again
What a coincidence. I am here again
Well, we both are, like yesterday
Are those rocker sole shoes?

Oh, that's a birthmark
Here, you mean, you point
right here? No
don't come any closer!

     You're already scorching me!
     you ignite my imagination
     it starts to burn
     the smoke clouds me

     and I like to blaze splendidly
     until nothing is left of me
     and then arise again, jump
     again, into the fire

     of desire
     dance in the flames
     glow together forever
     Where shall we meet?

     I'd like to get to know you
     although I wonder:
     does fire know the bodies
     to which it jumps?

Poem 3017
Amsterdam, 2020-06-27
Covid-19 pandemic, Social distancing
Collection: Changing Times
 

Zywa My soul is searching the good life

We are our own public
ours is the city, the fountain
playing my stage, it is not allowed
but the night is warm
and I feel like it

Marcello comes down the stairs
he would rather watch, yet
he stoops, puts his shoes
next to the glass of milk
and steps into the water

Caressing, he folds his hands
around my head, still without
touching me
yes! yes! he is searching for my lips
the world seems to stand still

I feel his breath
as he freezes and looks back
at a man on the bike
with a pizza box on his head
His soul is confused

Poem 2661
Amsterdam, 2020-01-30
The good life (Federico Fellini) - 1960
Film "La dolce vita"
Collection: Metamorphic body
Tribute to: Fellini, Federico 
 

He dwells in this cave,

here, in this poisonous swamp:


my dragon devil.


Hij woont in zijn grot,Im giftigen Sumpf
in dit giftige moeras --der Höhle wohnt mein Liebling --

mijn drakenduivel.mein Drachenteufel.

Poem H2426
Amsterdam, 2019-04-02
Collection: Froend
 

You flutter inside

me and my hands butterfly --


to touch and feel you.


Jij vlindert in mij,Du falterst in mir,
mijn handen fladderen mee --meine Hände flattern mit --

en betasten jou.und betasten dich.

Poem H2185
Amsterdam, 2018-06-18
Collection: More
 

He notices he's

getting too close again, and --


recoils in his shell.


Hij merkt dat hij weerEr merkt, dass er zu
te dichtbij komt, en schrikt dan --nahe kommt und zuckt zurück --

terug in zijn schulp.in sein Schneckenhaus.

Poem S0568
Amsterdam, 2017-11-15
Diary 1964-1965 (Frida Vogels) - 2008
"Dagboek 1964-1965" - April 26th, 1965, Bologna (about the beginning of her relationship with Ennio, December 1954 in Milan)
Collection: Self-portraits
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Until it gets dark,

grandma's sitting-room is ours --


the armchair our bed.


Tot het donker wordtBis es dunkel wird,
is oma's kamer van ons --gehört Omas Zimmer uns --

de fauteuil ons bed.Im Bett des Sessels.

Poem H1853
Amsterdam, 2017-11-04
The hard core - 2 (Frida Vogels) - 1993
Autobiographical account "De harde kern" (1938, Laren: Mother talks about the time of her romance with father, in 1926)
Collection: ThereFrom
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Zywa Evenings are obligatory

Evenings are obligatory

if possible with love
to push the bustle out
of our day head

Like couples at the weekend
in the evening in the park
leaning against each other

folding their hands
in the hands of the other
in the light of the moon

There's nothing to add to their hearts
although she eventually asks him
kiss me

Poem 807
Amsterdam, 2016-10-17
Two lovers on a park bench (Samuel Johnson /Philip Glass) - 1976
After: "Two lovers on a park bench" (1976, Samuel Johnson) - from: "Einstein on the beach" (1976, Philip Glass)
Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
Tribute to: Johnson, Samuel 
Composer: Glass, Philip 
 

Teenagers in love,

stroked by the wind and the surf --


licking off their toes.


Verliefde tieners,Verliebt, gestreichelt
gestreeld door wind en branding --von Wind und Brandung, leckend --

die hun tenen tongt.an ihren Zehen.

Poem H1560
Amsterdam, 2016-10-14
Collection: Take a picture, now
 

I shall let you in,

into my dream if you will --


kiss me in your dream.


Ik laat jou binnenIch lass dich rein in
in mijn droom als jij mij wilt --meinem Traum, wenn du mich willst --

kussen in jouw droom.küssen in deinem.

Poem H1220
Amsterdam, 2015-07-19
Talkin' World War III blues (Bob Dylan) - 1963
Song (album "The freewheelin' Bob Dylan")
Collection: Great Flow 
Tribute to: Dylan, Bob 
 

Zywa Your hill

Branches snapping under your heels
your hands in the trousers-pockets
like a man – seemingly carelessly
you stroke out for the hill
     Then you always deliberately thought
     that this time I wouldn't be there
     your princess with the flaxen hair

You made me silently cry in bed
although I only had to catch sight
of you, to change my tears for a smile
and in a twinkle
     feel happy and light
     just because you were there
     to cool down among the periwinkle
     on your hill, in the evening air

Once I took your neck in my hands
and kissed your mouth over and over again
my pointed tongue against your teeth
     My heavy fingers slowly caressed
     your white but warm cheeks
     A light glow laurelled my body
     pervaded us with shame and nameless longing

Poem 30
Amsterdam, 2005-08-06
Return to Atlantis (Hubert Lampo) - 1953
Novel "Terugkeer naar Atlantis"
Collection: The Big Secret
Tribute to: Lampo, Hubert 
 

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