He washed his shirt him-

self at the seaside, he says --


Or did his lover?


Aan zee heeft hij zelfEr habe sein Hemd
zijn hemd gewassen, zegt hij --selbst gewaschen, sagt er. Nicht --

Niet zijn minnares?seine Geliebte?

Poem S2966
Amsterdam, 2025-09-17
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - September 14th, 1977, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

He secludes himself

to call his mother, hm, or --


maybe his mistress?


Hij zondert zich afEr geht um seine
om zijn moeder te bellen --Mutter anzurufen, hm --

Of zijn minnares?oder sein Liebchen?

Poem S2967
Amsterdam, 2025-09-17
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - October 10th, 1977, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Of course I known that

he is with her, yet he isn't --


until he tells me.


Ik weet het al lang,Ich weiß ja, dass er
hij is bij haar, maar ook niet --mit ihr ist, aber auch nicht --

tot hij het me zegt.bis er es mir sagt.

Poem H5947
Amsterdam, 2025-09-16
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - August 13th, 1977, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

My husband likes her,

so he's fine with me being --


away for a while.


Mijn man vindt haar leuk,Mein Mann mag sie und
hij vindt het prima, dat ik --findet es okay, dass ich --

geregeld weg ben.zeitweise weg bin.

Poem S2951
Schin op Geul, 2025-09-03
Diary 1974-1976 (Frida Vogels) - 2013
"Dagboek 1974-1976" - November 30th, 1976, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Once young, and afraid

of flings, and now with a child --


afraid of affairs.


Eerst jong, en bang voorEinst jung, mit Angst vor
slippertjes, nu met een kind --Liebschaften, und jetzt mit Kind --

bang voor affaires.vor Verhältnissen.

Poem S2688
Amsterdam, 2025-06-03
It's allowed to miss a cheater (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2025
Column "Je mag een bedrieger missen", in the NRC of June 3rd, 2025
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen 
 

With a smile he lied

to friends: our relationship --


was an open one.


Lachend beloog hijEr log Freunde an:
vrienden: onze relatie --unsere Beziehung sei --

was voortaan open.eine offene.

Poem S2689
Amsterdam, 2025-06-03
It's allowed to miss a cheater (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2025
Column "Je mag een bedrieger missen", in the NRC of June 3rd, 2025
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen 
 

The fire of my love

melts the ice of his deceit --


into many tears.


Mijn liefde voor hemMein Liebesfeuer
smelt het ijs van zijn bedrog --schmilzt das Eis seines Betrugs --

tot heel veel tranen.zu vielen Tränen.

Poem S2590
Amsterdam, 2025-03-11
The Nymph's Lament (Ottavio Rinuccinio / Claudio Monteverdi) - 1638
Madrigal "Lamento della Ninfa" (SV 163)
Collection: Love Mind and Death
Tribute to: Rinuccini, Ottavio 
Composer: Monteverdi, Claudio 
 

My husband scorns me,

though I love him very much --


Oh, what can I do?


Mijn man versmaad mij,Mein Mann verschmäht mich,
terwijl ik veel van hem houd --obwohl ich ihn sehr liebe --

O, wat kan ik doen?Oh, was kann ich tun?

Poem S2548
Amsterdam, 2025-02-05
I am a scorned wife (Apostolo Zeno / Geminiano Giacomelli) - 1734
Air "Sposa son disprezzata" (lyrics Apostolo Zeno), from the opera "La Merope" ("Queen Merope") - Irene
Collection: Love Mind and Death
Tribute to: Zeno, Apostolo 
Composer: Giacomelli, Geminiano 
 

The city has changed,

it is no longer mine, but --


hers and my husband's.


De stad is anders,Die Stadt ist anders,
niet meer van mij, maar van hen --nicht mehr meine, sondern von --

van haar en mijn man.ihr und meinem Mann.

Poem H5208
Amsterdam, 2025-01-29
She came to stay (Simone de Beauvoir) - 1943
Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" (1943, "She came to stay" / "The Invitee", 1949), part 1, chapter 6
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: De Beauvoir, Simone 
 

He smiles docilely

at his wife, I know it, that's --


how he looks at me.


Onderdanig lachtGefügig lächelt
hij naar zijn vrouw, ik ken het --er seine Frau an, ich weiß --

Zo kijkt hij naar mij.So sieht er mich an.

Poem S2535
Amsterdam, 2025-01-29
She came to stay (Simone de Beauvoir) - 1943
Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" (1943, "She came to stay" / "The Invitee", 1949), part 1, chapter 4
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: De Beauvoir, Simone 
 

Most people trust their

partner, so adultery --


is not difficult.


Mensen vertrouwenMenschen vertrauen
hun partner, overspel is --ihrem Partner: Fremdgehen --

daarom niet moeilijk.ist gar nicht schwierig.

Poem S2533
Amsterdam, 2025-01-27
You can't stop summer either (Dimitri Verhulst) - 2015
Novella "De zomer hou je ook niet tegen", page 52
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Verhulst, Dimitri 
 

Sooner or later

a man finds his wife ugly,


stupid and unkind.


Vroeger of laterIrgendwann findet
vindt een man zijn vrouw lelijk,ein Mann seine Frau hässlich,

dom en onaardig.dumm und unfreundlich.

Poem S2514
Amsterdam, 2025-01-17
The Saint of the Impossible (Arnon Grunberg) - 1998
Novella "De heilige Antonio", chapter 1
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Grunberg, Arnon 
 

Our beginning makes

me doubt: that you always lied --


to your dear girlfriend.


Over ons beginUnser Anfang lässt
twijfel ik: dat jij steeds loog --mich zweifeln: deine Freundin --

tegen je vriendin.hast du belogen.

Poem S2488
Amsterdam, 2024-12-26
Saviour (Renate Dorrestein) - 2017
Novel "Reddende engel", chapter March 8th 17:30
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate 
 

In my mistress's

handwriting I make myself --


known to my dear wife.


In het handschrift vanIn der Schrift meiner
mijn minnares maak ik mij --Geliebten mache ich mich --

bekend aan mijn vrouw.meiner Frau bekannt.

Poem S2358
De Koog, 2024-09-17
Gut Symmetries (Jeanette Winterson) - 1997
Novel; Gut = Grand unified theory), chapter Page of Coins - Jove
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

Hush now, my darling,

I really don't need to know --


I can endure this.


Stil maar, lieveling,Liebling, erkläre
ik hoef het niet te weten --nichts, ich muss es nicht wissen --

ik verdraag het wel.ich ertrage es.

Poem S2328
Amsterdam, 2024-08-28
Don't explain (Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr / Nina Simone) - 1944
Song, released in 1946, sung in 1966 by Nina Simone (album "Let it all out")
Collection: Em Brace
Tribute to: Holiday, Billie; Simone, Nina 
 

He has affairs, I

don't cry anymore, my eyes --


spark brighter than flint.


Hij gaat vreemd, ik huilFremdgang, ich weine
niet meer, mijn ogen vonken --nicht, meine Augen funken --

feller dan vuursteen.greller als Silex.

Poem S2304
Amsterdam, 2024-08-11
The Three Arrows (Iris Murdoch) - 1972
Play, Act One, scene Three
Collection: Dreams of love
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

His sweet words to me,

I hear him repeating them --


to her, just like that . . .


Zijn lieve woordenDie süßen Worte
aan mij herhaalt hij vandaag --an mich wiederholt er jetzt --

letterlijk bij haar . . .buchstäblich an sie . . .

Poem S2272
Amsterdam, 2024-07-14
Air "Beautiful daughter of love" (Victor Hugo / Francesco Maria Piave / Giuseppe Verdi) - 1832
Air "Bella figlia dell'amore" from the opera "Rigoletto" (1851, "Rigolo" = funny-man, funny, amusing), third act; based on the play "Le roi s'amuse" (1832, "The king has fun")
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Hugo, Victor; Piave, Francesco Maria 
Composer: Verdi, Giuseppe 
 

She puts on make-up,

but naked is your mistress --


just the same as me.


Ze maakt zich mooi op,Sie schminkt sich, aber
maar naakt is jouw minnares --nackt ist deine Geliebte --

hetzelfde als ik.genauso wie ich.

Poem S1425
Amsterdam, 2022-06-09
The other woman (Jessie Mae Robinson / Nina Simone) - 1955
Song, 1955 recorded by Sarah Vaughan, 1959 by Nina Simone
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: Robinson, Jessie Mae; Simone, Nina 
 

His mistress brings him

good luck, that's why he buys her --


lottery tickets.


Zijn minnares brengtSeine Geliebte
hem geluk, daarom koopt hij --bringt ihm Glück, also kauft er --

steeds loten voor haar.ihr Lottoscheine.

Poem S0635
Amsterdam, 2018-01-01
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - May 13th and August 22nd, 1978, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

His new clothes are neat,

he bought them himself, chosen --


by his mistress, though.


Zijn nieuwe kleren,Die neuen Kleider,
zelf gekocht en uitgezocht --selbst gekauft, ausgesucht von --

door zijn minnares.seiner Geliebten.

Poem S0636
Amsterdam, 2018-01-01
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - May 13th and August 22nd, 1978, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Maybe he sees her

between appointments, maybe --


that is a good thing.


Misschien ziet hij haarVielleicht trifft er sich
tussen zijn afspraken door --zwischen Terminen mit ihr --

Misschien is dat goed.Vielleicht ist das gut.

Poem S0637
Amsterdam, 2018-01-01
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - December 11th, 1978, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

In order to see

each other, we have to move --


belongings around.


Om elkaar te zienUm uns sehen zu
moeten we steeds weer spullen --können, räumen wir ständig --

heen en weer brengen.Sachen hin und her.

Poem H1948
Amsterdam, 2017-12-31
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - August 7th, 1978, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

He says it lightly,

a passing remark, that's how --


difficult it is.


Hij zegt het luchtig,Die Bemerkung macht
een terloopse opmerking --er lässig und beiläufig --

Zo moeilijk is het.So schwierig ist es.

Poem S0634
Amsterdam, 2017-12-31
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - August 8th, 1978, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

What I didn't want to

know, I do now know for sure --


simply by guessing.


Wat ik niet wildeWas ich nicht wissen
weten, weet ik nu zeker --wollte, weiß ich jetzt genau --

door het te raden.einfach durch Raten.

Poem S0620
Amsterdam, 2017-12-28
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
"Dagboek 1977-1978" - August 13th and 15th, 1977, Bologna
Collection: Helices
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

With a smile you say:

you're late. I swallow my tongue --


with the stealth kisses.


Je bent laat, lach je;Du bist spät, lachst du;
gauw poets ik de buurvrouw uit --schnell putz ich die Nachbarin --

mijn mond vol tanden.aus meinem Kussmund.

Poem S0466
Amsterdam, 2017-01-30
Having an affair (Tim Hofman) - 2016
Poem "Vreemdgaan" (twitter @debroervanroos, and in the collection "Gedichten van de broer van Roos")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Hofman, Tim 
 

Zywa Love is just a word

When I was young, I still remember that
I used to wear a broad-brimmed hat
and once, while sunning in the grass I heard
a girl, her voice was singing like a bird
and telling someone stories of their kid
she asked to call more often than he did
though she was doing fine without him, actually
for men are tempted much too willingly
and love is just a word, eventually

I couldn't believe the words she said
and cautiously I moved a bit ahead
to be surprised: I saw, her laugh lay
there next to his, enjoying her day
I wondered what I failed to know
to me this couple seemed to show
that love is like it has to be
much more than just a word, eventually?

That sunny day in spring I went
away not knowing what she meant
but later all my boyfriends taught me
that arms embracing sweetly in the night
as well may hold another woman tight
while whispering I truly love just you
what everyone preferably holds true
to: love is just a word, eventually

Poem 130
Amsterdam, 2009-04-21
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
Keyword
Love: infidelity
GermanDutch5-7-5
PencilPumiceRainLoves
CompressedBirdsIflessPhoto
TributesDedicationsComposersHome
Attention is like sunshineMention © Zywa when using texts,
drawings, designs, paintings and photos
Search word:  CTRL-F