The legal order

is falling apart, you can --


only be in love.


De rechtsorde valtWenn die Rechtsordnung
uit elkaar, je kunt alleen --auseinanderfällt, kann man --

nog maar verliefd zijn.nur noch verliebt sein.

Poem S3280
Amsterdam, 2026-10-15
Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (Bob Dylan) - 1975
Song, album "Blood on the Tracks"
Collection: Great Flow 
Tribute to: Dylan, Bob 
 

She came and she went.

It was love, for this one night --


A coincidence.


Ze kwam en ze ging.Sie kam und sie ging.
Het was liefde, voor een nacht --Es war Liebe, eine Nacht --

Het was maar toeval.Es war ein Zufall.

Poem S3276
Amsterdam, 2026-10-14
Simple Twist of Fate (Bob Dylan) - 1975
Song, album "Blood on the Tracks"
Collection: Great Flow 
Tribute to: Dylan, Bob 
 

The threshold. The bride

steps over it, expectant --


No more romance now!


De drempel. De bruidDie Schwelle. Die Braut
stapt vol verwachting binnen --geht voller Erwartung ein --

Geen romantiek meer!Schluss mit Romantik!

Poem S3252
Zandvoort aan Zee, 2026-09-03
Lines 'The threshold, / the difference between the bride's joy / and disappointment' from a poem in the collection "Midnight" (2025, Mourid al-Barghouti, translation 2026), quoted in the novel "L'homme qui lisait des livres" ("The man who read books", 2025, Rachid Benzine), chapter "The House of Return – Gaza", named after the poetry collection "The House of Ra'd' " / "La maison du retour" / "The House of Return" (1972, Mourid al-Barghouti)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Barghouti, Mourid al- 
 

Did he write poems

in the beginning of your --


relationship? Dad?


In het begin vanHat er zu Beginn
jullie verkering schreef hij --eurem Umgang Gedichte --

gedichten? Papa?geschrieben? Papa?

Poem H6125
Amsterdam, 2026-03-03
My struggle 4. Dancing in the Dark (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2010
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Fjerde bok", part 5 - August 23rd, 1985, Tveit (near Kristiansand)
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove 
 

Yesterday was so

romantic, today I feel --


you are different.


Gisteren was zoGestern war es so
romantisch, vandaag voel ik --romantisch, heute spüre --

dat jij anders bent.ich, du bist anders.

Poem H6077
Amsterdam, 2026-01-30
My struggle 2. A Man in Love (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2009
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Andre bok", part 3 - February 27th, 2005, Stockholm
Collection: Leaving
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove 
 

We get together,

here, under the street lamp we --


become one shadow.


Wij versmelten er,Verschmelzung unter
onder de lantarenpaal --der Laterne, zu einem --

samen één schaduw.einzigen Schatten.

Poem H5656
Amsterdam, 2025-07-04
Song of a young sentry / Lili Marleen (Hans Leip / Norbert Schultze) - 1915
Song "Lied eines jungen Wachtpostens" (1915, Hans Leip; music 1939, Norbert Schultze), sung by Lale Andersen
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Leip, Hans; Schultze, Norbert 
 

Romance has no

boundaries: everyone and --


everything is love!


Romantiek uit zichRomantik drückt sich
onbegrensd: iedereen en --grenzenlos aus: jeder und --

alles is liefde!alles ist Liebe!

Poem H5536
Amsterdam, 2025-05-30
With a photo of a birdhouse named 'Liebesnest' ('Love nest'), at Gasthaus Bürgisweier Bad (June 5th, 2011, Madiswil)

Birdhouse

Collection: Without reserve
Dedicated to: Lotte W, Madelief dK 
 

He is romantic,

in the monsoon he rains his --


kisses down on me.


Hij is romantisch,Er ist romantisch,
laat met de moesson kusjes --im Monsun lässt er Küssen --

op mij regenen.sanft auf mich regnen.

Poem H5308
Amsterdam, 2025-03-13
All we imagine as light (Payal Kapadia) - 2024
Film "Prabhayay Ninachathellam"
Collection: Changing Times
Tribute to: Kapadia, Payal 
 

After this long walk

it would be so romantic --


to give him a hug.


Na de wandelingNach der Wanderung
zou het zo romantisch zijn --wäre es so romantisch --

hem te omhelzen.ihn zu umarmen.

Poem H5216
Amsterdam, 2025-02-05
She came to stay (Simone de Beauvoir) - 1943
Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" (1943, "She came to stay" / "The Invitee", 1949), part 2, chapter 8
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: De Beauvoir, Simone 
 

We are daydreaming

in the imitation cave --


of the Grand Hotel.


We liggen te dag-Träumend liegen wir
dromen in de namaakgrot --in der künstlichen Höhle --

van het Grand Hotel.des Luxushotels.

Poem H5217
Amsterdam, 2025-02-05
She came to stay (Simone de Beauvoir) - 1943
Novel (roman à clef) "L'invitée" (1943, "She came to stay" / "The Invitee", 1949), part 2, chapter 9
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: De Beauvoir, Simone 
 

He already has

someone, I wish it was not --


I wish I was her.


Hij heeft al een vrouw,Er hat schon eine
ik wou dat het anders was --Frau, wenn es nur nicht wäre --

wou dat ik haar was.ich nur sie wäre.

Poem S2332
Amsterdam, 2024-08-30
Plain Gold Ring (George Stone / Nina Simone) - 1956
Song, sung in 1957 by Nina Simone (album "Little Girl Blue", 1959)
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: Stone, George; Simone, Nina 
 

I'm a sane person,

but out of love I believe --


in some afterlife.


Ik ben verstandig,Ich bin vernünftig,
maar uit liefde geloof ik --nur aus Liebe glaube ich --

in een voortbestaan.an ein Nachleben.

Poem H4648
Amsterdam, 2024-05-27
Quichotte (Salman Rushdie) - 2019
Novel, part 3, chapter 21
Collection: Wind
Tribute to: Rushdie, Salman 
 

On her bed she thinks

of budding love, so often --


you read about it.


Op haar bed denkt zeAuf dem Bett denkt sie
aan prille liefde, zo vaak --an frische Liebe, so oft --

lees je daarover.liest man darüber.

Poem H4604
Amsterdam, 2024-04-23
Little poet (Nescio) - 1918
Story "Dichtertje", written in 1917, chapter 6
Collection: Rasping ants
Tribute to: Nescio 
 

Straight into heaven,

like a rocket, with my love:


that's the life I want!


Zo de hemel in,So in den Himmel,
als een raket, met mijn lief:wie eine Rakete, so --

zo wil ik leven!möchte ich leben!

Poem H4440
Amsterdam, 2024-01-13
The Bride (Marc Chagall) - 1950
Painting "La Mariée"
Film "Notting Hill" (1999, screenplay Richard Curtis, direction Roger Michell)

Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
Tribute to: Chagall, Marc; Curtis, Richard 
 

Garlands in the streets,

and between the stars and us --


And I dance, I dance!


Slingers in de stad,Girlanden hängen
tussen de sterren en ons --zwischen den Sternen und uns --

En ik dans, ik dans!Ich tanze, tanze!

Poem H4242
Amsterdam, 2023-10-22
Sentenses (Arthur Rimbaud / Benjamin Britten) - 1875
Prose poem "Phrases" (collection "Les Illuminations"), set to music in 1938-1939 by Benjamin Britten (opus 18)
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Rimbaud, Arthur 
Composer: Britten, Benjamin 
 

Trains fan out widely

into the country, they steam --


colours of romance!


Treinen waaierenZüge fächern aus
wijd het land in, ze stomen --ins Land, sie dämpfen Farben --

kleuren romantiek!voller Romantik!

Poem S1969
Amsterdam, 2023-10-21
Organic Steam (Ivan Bozicevic) - 2022
Composition for computer-controlled organ, and video, performed by himself on October 21st, 2023 in the Organpark
Collection: org ANP ark 
Composer: Bozicevic, Ivan 
 

We are old enough,

we don't do it in the park --


There is Shut Kaffir!


We zijn oud genoeg,Wir sind alt genug,
we vrijen niet in het park --wir machen nicht im Park rum --

Er is Schützkaffee!Es gibt Schützkaffee!

Poem H4179
Amsterdam, 2023-09-26
Else Böhler, German maid (Simon Vestdijk) - 1934
In The Hague, Simon Vestdijk and Maria Schrader often visited Schut's Café, corrupted to Schützkaffee ('Shelter coffee')
Novel "Else Böhler, Duits dienstmeisje", published 1935, chapter April 16th, '34

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

A romantic kiss;

her first, so her eyes tell me --


dying passively.


Romantische kus;Romantischer Kuss;
haar eerste, zeggen lijdzaam --ihr erster, ihre Augen --

stervend haar ogen.sterben gelassen.

Poem H3930
Amsterdam, 2023-07-04
The last chance - The history of a love (Simon Vestdijk) - 1960
Novel "De laatste kans - De geschiedenis van een liefde", chapter 1-3 (AD 1923)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

Is it delusion

to love someone? Is it some --


kind of comedy?


Is het inbeeldingIst die Liebe nur
om van iemand te houden?Einbildung? Ist sie eine --

Een soort komedie?Art Komödie?

Poem H3928
Amsterdam, 2023-07-03
The last chance - The history of a love (Simon Vestdijk) - 1960
Novel "De laatste kans - De geschiedenis van een liefde", chapter 1-1 (AD 1922)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

Love: forgetting you

know each other, discover --


each other once more.


Liefde: vergetenLiebe: vergessen,
dat je elkaar kent, opnieuw --dass man sich kennt, sich erneut --

elkaar ontdekken.wiederentdecken.

Poem H3922
Amsterdam, 2023-07-02
The wrinkles of Esther Ornstein - The history of a neglect (Simon Vestdijk) - 1959
Novel "De rimpels van Esther Ornstein - De geschiedenis van een verzuim", chapter 3-4 (AD 1922)
Collection: Inmost [1]
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

He caresses her

tenderly in the moonlight --


at least her shadow.


Tussen de bloemenZwischen den Blumen
streelt hij haar in het maanlicht --streichelt er sie im Mondschein --

althans haar schaduw.bloß ihren Schatten.

Poem H3622
Amsterdam, 2022-12-27
The wave (Luigi Pirandello) - 1894
Story "L'onda", § I
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Pirandello, Luigi 
 

Zywa Canopy bed

I wander along the stores
which make the pitch dark less scary
although you never know who may pop up

and that would not be Prince Charming
who can break through his spell
with my love, so that instantly
the shop window is a marriage bed
with sky blue curtains

and we get an enema because
of the spurning the chewable tablets
to let go of the past
and to seal our future
only dressed in a crown

with the red plug in his butt
and the green one in mine
The girls from my work
escort us to the bed
which we mount under applause

Their hands lay us down
and rub us up
for the grand finale

Poem 4795
Amsterdam, 2022-11-09
Drug Store (Edward Hopper) - 1927
Painting
Laxative "Ex-Lax" (chewable tablets)

Collection: NightWatch
Tribute to: Hopper, Edward 
 

As the love poet

I recite my work, at home --


my wife languishes.


Als liefdesdichterAls Liebesdichter
draag ik mijn werk voor, en thuis --trage ich vor, zu Hause --

verkommert mijn vrouw.verblüht meine Frau.

Poem S1500
Scheveningen, 2022-09-03
A pleasant postumity: letters 1965-1997 (Herman de Coninck) - 1985
Letter 83, from Herman de Coninck to Piet Thomas, January 8th, 1985 (in "Een aangename postumiteit: brieven 1965-1997"); published in 2004
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman 
 

Zywa Snow White's Death

Her neck, I remember
was a round ivory tower
not too short, not too long

Snow-white skin
Snow White her name
Who would not love her!

Oh, her shoulders, firm
and soft her arms and legs
round breasts and hips

straight back, perfect beauty
Magic mirror on the wall
who is beloved by all?

We all wished to know her
and hear words from her mouth
that bear witness to our existence

If she was only there
then I could hope
to love her someday

Poem 4505
Amsterdam, 2022-05-30
Book of the Duchess (Geoffrey Chaucer) - 1369
Also known as "The Deth of Blaunche"
Collection: The Big Secret
Tribute to: Chaucer, Geoffrey 
 

Zywa Love arrows

Any way the wind blows
that's where people fall in love
until the poison stops working
your loved one pulls out
the arrow and makes you cry

No more sweet words
only the popular songs
about your own pitifulness
the widespread disbelief
in real real love

and the general envy
of cheap sensations, as if
people wish for nothing else
and have nothing more
to offer than that

Beware, wherever you are
there is always a fountain of love
nearby, where the world stands still
from timeless happiness
sealed with a coin

Poem 4243
Amsterdam, 2021-12-21
Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention) - 1968
Album "Cruising with Ruben & the Jets"
Collection: Greeting from before
Tribute to: Zappa, Frank; The Mothers of Invention 
Composer: Zappa, Frank 
 

Defenceless I sink

away in the sweet feelings --


of my wishful dreams.


Weerloos zak ik wegWehrlos sinke ich
in de zoete gevoelens --in den süßen Gefühlen --

van mijn wensdromen.meiner Wunschträume.

Poem S1292
Amsterdam, 2021-12-02
Sweet memory of Jesus (Caioni Codex) - 1670
Composition "Jesu dulcis memoria"
Collection: ORG anp ark 
Tribute to: Caioni, Johannes 
 

I could have married

a good man, but I did not --


ever fall in love.


Ik kon wel trouwenJa, gute Männer
met een goede man, maar ach --könnte ich heiraten, nur --

ik was nooit verliefd.ich bin nie verliebt.

Poem S1273
Egmond aan Zee, 2021-10-26
The Book and the Brotherhood (Iris Murdoch) - 1987
Novel
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

Love raises a lot

of dreams, dreams of happiness --


not to be fulfilled.


Liefde roept zoveelLiebe ruft viele
dromen op, van veel geluk --Träume hervor, so viel Glück --

dat onvervuld blijft.das unerfüllt bleibt.

Poem S1232
Overberg, 2021-09-07
Bruno's Dream (Iris Murdoch) - 1969
Novel
Collection: Dreams of love
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

Love is a concept

that has become way too big --


to have any use.


Liefde is een woordLiebe ist ein Wort
dat te groot geworden is --das zu groß geworden ist --

om van nut te zijn.um nützlich zu sein.

Poem S1164
Amsterdam, 2021-04-29
Love (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2021
Column "De liefde" (NRC, April 29th, 2021)
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen 
 

What are you thinking?

It lies there so between us --


our very first kiss.


Waar denk je toch aan?Woran denkst du doch?
Hij ligt zo tussen ons in --Er liegt da so zwischen uns --

onze eerste kus.unser erster Kuss.

Poem S1018
Amsterdam, 2020-05-28
Secret poem (Ingmar Heytze) - 2005
Poem "Geheim gedicht" (collection "Schaduwboekhouding")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Heytze, Ingmar 
 

My lips press the kiss

from back then into a grave --


that is two mouths deep.


Mijn lippen drukkenIch drücke den Kuss
de kus van toen in een graf --von damals sanft in ein zwei --

van twee monden diep.Münder tiefes Grab.

Poem S1019
Amsterdam, 2020-05-28
Secret poem (Ingmar Heytze) - 2005
Poem "Geheim gedicht" (collection "Schaduwboekhouding")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Heytze, Ingmar 
 

I bury one kiss

to harvest thousands of them --


they'll all be for you.


Ik begraaf één kusIch begrab' einen
om er duizend te oogsten --Kuss, um tausend zu ernten --

allemaal voor jou.allesamt für dich.

Poem S1020
Amsterdam, 2020-05-28
Secret poem (Ingmar Heytze) - 2005
Poem "Geheim gedicht" (collection "Schaduwboekhouding")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Heytze, Ingmar 
 

Do I love you, or

the rather my fantasy


about you, and me?


Houd ik echt van jouLieb ich dich wirklich,
of meer van mijn fantasieoder meine Fantasie --

over jou, en mij?über dich, und mich?

Poem S0952
Amsterdam, 2019-10-20
Collection: Greeting from before
 

A poem he wants

to write about me. Do I --


have to pose for it?


Een gedicht wil hijEin Gedicht will er
over mij schrijven. Moet ik --über mich schreiben. Muss ich --

daarvoor poseren?dafür posieren?

Poem H2519
Amsterdam, 2019-07-07
Grand Hotel Europa (Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer) - 2018
Novel
Collection: Palace of the night
Tribute to: Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard 
 

Well, what did I know

about love, always writing --


about its beauty?


Ach, wat wist ik toenAch, was wusste ich
van de liefde, toen ik schreef --über Liebe, als ich schrieb --

hoe prachtig ze is?wie reizend sie ist?

Poem S0879
Amsterdam, 2019-05-26
Letters from Genoa (Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer) - 2016
"Brieven uit Genua", April 29th, 2015
Collection: Palace of the night
Tribute to: Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard 
 

Let us see the sun

in the morning, see it rise --


in each other's eyes.


We willen de zonIch würde gerne
zien opkomen, morgenvroeg --den Sonnenaufgang sehen --

in elkaars ogen.in deinen Augen.

Poem H2452
Amsterdam, 2019-05-04
Letters from Genoa (Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer) - 2016
"Brieven uit Genua", March 31st, 2015
Collection: Palace of the night
Tribute to: Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard 
 

With you on the heath

little birches in the mist --


a volatile scent.


Met jou op de hei,Wir beide im Moor,
berkenboompjes in de mist --ein dünner, flüchtiger Duft -

een vluchtige geur.Birken im Nebel.

Poem H1200
Amsterdam, 2015-07-05
No face, no hands (Rutger Kopland) - 1978
Poem "Geen gezicht, geen handen" (collection "Al die mooie beloften")
Collection: MistI
Tribute to: Kopland, Rutger 
 

Modelling a man,

gently folding hands and heart --


all around my love.


Een man boetseren,Einen Mann formen,
zijn handen en hart vouwen --Hände und Herz sanft falten --

rondom mijn liefde.um meine Liebe.

Poem S0199
Amsterdam, 2014-05-22
Collection: Webgarden
 

When you wrote my name

in the sand I wrote your name --


nicely over it.


Toen jij mijn naam schreefIn den Sand schreibst du
in het zand schreef ik jouw naam --deinen Namen und meinen --

er blij overheen.zierlich darüber.

Poem H0399
Amsterdam, 2012-12-14
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
 

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