Uncles and aunts are

rarely nice to each other --


No marriage for me.


Ooms en tantes zijnOnkel und Tanten
zelden aardig voor elkaar --sind nicht nett zueinander --

Ik wil niet trouwen.Ich heirate nicht.

Poem S3152
Amsterdam, 2026-05-11
Can in the roadside (Nicolien Mizee) - 2022
Short story "Blikje in de berm", published in Trouw on February 12th, 2022, and in the collection "Paradise" (2023)
Collection: In the light
Tribute to: Mizee, Nicolien 
 

It's my birthday, so

I toast to myself, only --


then he does the same.


Ik ben jarig, dusMein Geburtstag, ich
proost ik op mezelf, en dan --stoße auf mich selbst an, erst --

doet hij het ook maar.dann tut er es auch.

Poem S2968
Amsterdam, 2025-09-17
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - January 10th, 1978, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

After making love

we're going to have breakfast --


but first we bicker.


Na het vrijen gaanNach dem Sex werden
we niet meteen ontbijten --wir nicht direkt frühstücken --

eerst kibbelen we.erst zanken wir uns.

Poem S2296
Amsterdam, 2024-08-05
Henry and Cato (Iris Murdoch) - 1976
Novel, part Two, The Great Teacher
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

Boys thinking to be

a good lover, sink their claws --


into the girl's soul.


Jongens vinden zichJungs halten sich für
een minnaar, maar ze klauwen --Liebhaber, krallen aber --

in de meisjesziel.in Mädchenseele.

Poem S1934
Amsterdam, 2023-09-30
The happy hunting grounds (Nanne Tepper) - 1995
Novel "De eeuwige jachtvelden" (English edition 1999), first paragraph of the Second book
Collection: The Note Tree
Tribute to: Tepper, Nanne 
 

I want to be strong.

While I caress her, I scold --


her in a whisper.


Ik wil niet zwak zijn.Ich möchte stark sein.
Terwijl ik haar streel, scheld ik --Ich streichle und beschimpfe --

haar fluisterend uit.sie im Flüsterton.

Poem S1933
Amsterdam, 2023-09-26
Else Böhler, German maid (Simon Vestdijk) - 1934
Novel "Else Böhler, Duits dienstmeisje", published 1935, chapter April 16th, '34
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

She is taking care,

he keeps kissing it away --


with his laziness.


Zij regelt alles,Sie regelt alles,
hij kust het dagelijks af --und er küsst es täglich ab --

met zijn gemakzucht.mit Bequemlichkeit.

Poem S1879
Amsterdam, 2023-08-22
First grey then white then blue (Margriet de Moor) - 1991
Novel "Eerst grijs dan wit dan blauw", chapter I-1
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: De Moor, Margriet 
 

Still, twisted people

do know what love is about --


their own twisted love.


Verknipte mensenAuch die verdrehte
weten best wat liefde is --Leute kennen die Liebe --

verknipte liefde.verdrehte Liebe.

Poem H3958
Amsterdam, 2023-07-17
Cocoon (Zhang Yueran) - 2022
Novel
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2020-2029
Tribute to: Yueran, Zhang 
 

Zywa The days when he is sweet

When he loves me
I think he is better
than I know him to be
Adventures lure him

He enthusiastically magnifies them
in compelling stories
and our love
he scales down
My friends also
hang on

to the attention they get
on the days when he is sweet
and they don't worry
about what else he's doing

Poem 5141
Amsterdam, 2023-04-30
Love is just a four-letter word (Bob Dylan / Joan Baez) - 1967
Song, not recorded by Bob Dylan; sung by Joan Baez on the 1968 album "Any Day Now"
Collection: Great Flow 
Tribute to: Dylan, Bob; Baez, Joan 
 

Zywa As usual

He is late, as usual
It's his car, he decides
when we go home
At least, if he does come

And after the party he will say: Come
it was a nice evening, wasn't it?

but if he absolutely needs to
I'll let him, I'll let him

come until he screams
for mercy - nobody can hear it
The wind will blow, the grass will wave
and I will turn around to sleep

I love him, I know why
and he should be able to do better
I am worth it, and he too
If I only could teach him

Poem 4787
Amsterdam, 2022-11-08
South Carolina Morning (Edward Hopper) - 1955
Painting
Collection: NightWatch
Tribute to: Hopper, Edward 
 

Oh really? Do you

love me? Then why don't you stop --


the constant drinking?


Echt? Houd je van mij?Wirklich? Liebst du mich?
En waarom stop je dan niet --Warum hörst du dann nicht auf --

met al dat drinken?mit all dem Trinken?

Poem S1502
Amsterdam, 2022-09-04
A pleasant postumity: letters 1965-1997 (Herman de Coninck) - 1993
Letter 272, from Herman de Coninck to Johanna Kruit, December 19th, 1993 (in "Een aangename postumiteit: brieven 1965-1997"); published in 2004
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman 
 

Just half-heartedly

he puts his worries aside --


and kisses me, grave.


Halfhartig zet hijHalbherzig legt er
zijn zorgen opzij, ernstig --seine Sorgen beiseite --

geeft hij me een kus.und er küsst mich, ernst.

Poem H3131
Amsterdam, 2021-11-17
A Fairly Honourable Defeat (Iris Murdoch) - 1970
Novel
Collection: Stall
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

Zywa We're on the bed

The night-light is still on
we're on the bed, we look
at each other and we look away

Our words are unsure
so nude
that they can't lie

but speaking the truth
is too difficult, oh
we've each other

discovered already, up
to the limit of our shame
not for the ordinariness

of our bodies
impatience, disinterest
and lazy ignorance

but for denying
that we do not meet
our ideals

How can I more closely
make you feel in the dark
that it's good with us anyway?

Poem 2329
Amsterdam, 2019-07-02
Collection: Froend
 

Be good to your friends

and waste no love, waste no time --


Be so wise, be free.


Wees goed voor vrienden,Sei gut zu Freunden,
verspil geen liefde, geen tijd --verschwende keine Liebe --

Wees zo wijs, wees vrij.Sei so weise, frei.

Poem S0671
Amsterdam, 2018-01-30
The sea, the sea (Iris Murdoch) - 1978
Novel
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

Defeated we lie

beside each other, our poor --


loves, our poor bodies.


Verslagen liggenGeschlagen liegen
onze povere liefdes --unsere armen Lieben --

lichaam naast lichaam.Körper an Körper.

Poem S0644
Amsterdam, 2018-01-06
Diary 1968-1969 (Frida Vogels) - 2010
"Dagboek 1968-1969" - July 15th, 1968, Cupra Marittima
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Zywa Loiter days

Brunch with colleagues
Work is for later
One has to do so much

     has to live slowly
     with slow thoughts
     in soporific time

Anyway to bed on time
Not he, he stays up
The screen keeps him

     I turn around again and look
     ahead of me into the dark
     What was that quarrel?

Patience, a lot of patience
also with myself, dreaming
that I toil through sucking silt

     Inside the pillow hammers
     the breath of underwater animals
     I am lonely here

Poem 1637
Amsterdam, 2017-12-11
Collection: Pending rain
 

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