Without seeing you,

without understanding you --


I do what you want.


Zonder jou te zien,Ohne zu sehen,
zonder jou te begrijpen --ohne zu verstehen: ich --
doe ik wat jij wilt.tue, was du willst.

Poem H5897
Amsterdam, 2025-08-29
You lay there, and you didn't lie still (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Je lag daar, en je lag niet stil", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3" [part XI, Deceased]), and in "Diary 1974-1976" (2013) - March 20th, 1974, Amsterdam - Acting according to the wishes of the deceased
Collection: Overwritten
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Our very first kiss:

my heart was a little bird --


trembling in its nest.


Onze eerste kus:Unser erster Kuss:
mijn hart was een vogeltje --mein Herz ein Vögelchen, es --
trillend in het nest.zitterte im Nest.

Poem H5283
Amsterdam, 2025-03-01
The first time ever I saw your face (Ewan MacColl) - 1957
Song, sung in 1969 by Roberta Flack (album "First Take")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1940-1959
Tribute to: MacColl, Ewan; Flack, Roberta 
 

As a convert, he

follows Jesus' example --


of self-sacrifice.


Als bekeerling wilAls Bekehrter folgt
hij Jezus' voorbeeld volgen --er dem Vorbild Jesu, dem --
zijn opoffering.der Aufopferung.

Poem S2574
Amsterdam, 2025-02-24
Really sexy (Renate Dorrestein) - 2007
Novel "Echt sexy", chapter Together swan-hold-fast
Collection: Old sore
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate 
 

Surrendering me

to your wildest wishes, is --


that a foolish love?


Me uitleverenMich deinen wilden
aan jouw wildste verlangens:Wünschen hingeben: eine --
een dwaze liefde?törichte Liebe?

Poem H5184
Amsterdam, 2025-01-20
The Saint of the Impossible (Arnon Grunberg) - 1998
Novella "De heilige Antonio", chapter 15
Collection: Old sore
Tribute to: Grunberg, Arnon 
 

It's a deep under-

current into which I fall --


from my lover's love.


Het is een diepeIn einer tiefen
onderstroom waarin ik val --Unterströmung falle ich --
vanuit zijn liefde.Aus seiner Liebe.

Poem H5102
Amsterdam, 2024-11-30
Outline of a Whisper (Amarante Nat) - 2023
Composition, part 1: "now", for two voices, two trombones and two organs, performed on June 3rd, 2023 and November 30th, 2024 in the Organpark by Kristia Michael and Amarante Nat (voices), Yiannis Bontis and Juan Cancer Navarro (trombones) and Francesca Ajossa (Van Straten organ)
Collection: org anp ARK 
Composer: Nat, Amarante 
 

The bat-faced yellow

queen of sexual pleasure:


her razor-sharp mouth.


Gele koningin:Gelbe Königin:
de vleermuis van de wellust --die Fledermaus der Wollust --
Haar messcherpe mond.Messerscharfer Mund.

Poem S2403
Amsterdam, 2024-10-10
Foreign places (Renate Dorrestein) - 1985
Novel "Vreemde streken", chapter 5
Bardo Thodol (The Tibetan Book of the Dead), India, 8th century
Vampirism

Collection: Old sore
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate 
 

You came with the wind,

you saved me, gave me your hand --


and then you took mine.


Jij kwam met de wind,Du bist gekommen,
je redde mij, gaf jouw hand --hast deine Hand gegeben --
en nam de mijne.meine genommen.

Poem H4958
Amsterdam, 2024-10-05
Final Rescue Attempt (Nick Cave) - 2024
Song, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, album "Wild God"
Collection: Specialities
Tribute to: Cave, Nick 
 

Madness, vanity,

or genuine love: I will --


be yours forever!


Waanzin, ijdelheid,Wahnsinn, Eitelkeit,
of ware liefde: ik blijf --oder wahre Liebe: Dein --
altijd de jouwe!werde ich bleiben!

Poem H4930
De Koog, 2024-09-23
My heart to the one to whom it has given itself (Scipione Maffei / Antonio Vivaldi) - 1732
Air "Il mio core a chi la diede" from the opera "La fida ninfa" ("The faithful nymph", RV 714), 2nd act, 1st scene – Licori (nymph)
Collection: Love Mind and Death
Tribute to: Maffei, Scipione 
Composer: Vivaldi, Antonio 
 

If you want to go

with me, I will go with you --


wherever you go.


Als jij met mij wiltWenn du gehen willst
gaan, dan ga ik met jou mee --mit mir, gehe ich mit dir --
waarheen je ook gaat.wohin du auch gehst.

Poem H4709
Amsterdam, 2024-06-18
Cart (Jacques Plante) - 1962
Song "Chariot" ("Cart") / "I will follow him", composed in 1961 and performed instrumentally by Franck Pourcel, sung by Petula Clark (1962, lyrics Jacques Plante) and Little Peggy March (1963, lyrics Norman Gimbel)
The older song "Hymne à l'amour" (1950, Édith Piaf) has the same meaning (see H4713)

Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1960-1979
Tribute to: Gimbel, Norman; Plante, Jacques 
 

I am so in love

that I must confess to her:


I don't write poems.


Ik ben zo verliefd,Ich bin so verliebt,
dat ik het haar maar opbiecht:ich muss es ihr gestehen:
ik kan niet dichten.ich bin kein Dichter.

Poem H4601
Amsterdam, 2024-04-22
Little poet (Nescio)
Story "Dichtertje", written in 1917, chapter 2
Collection: Rasping ants
Tribute to: Nescio 
 

You called me Great, right,

I'll be whatever you wish:


Great, Small, always Yours!


Geweldig heb jeGroßartig hast du
mij genoemd, goed, wat je wilt:mich genannt, gut, was du willst:
Groot, Klein, de Jouwe!Groß oder Klein, Deins!

Poem H4337
Amsterdam, 2023-12-04
You said that I 'was Great' - one Day - (Emily Dickinson) - 1863
Poem (Franklin #736, Johnson #738)
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Dickinson, Emily 
 

For me, freedom is

second to love, yes, I do --


surrender to you.


Liever dan vrijheidBesser als Freiheit
is me liefde, ja ik wil --ist die Liebe, ja, ich will --
me overgeven.mich dir hingeben.

Poem H4205
Amsterdam, 2023-10-10
Love gets in the way (Dayna Kurtz) - 2002
Song (album "Postcards from downtown")
Love implies that you choose less freedom and control

Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Kurtz, Dayna 
 

He gives the rubber,

I look at him and I walk --


straight into his eyes.


Hij geeft me de gum,Er gibt den Gummi,
ik kijk hem aan en ik loop --ich schau ihn an und laufe --
zijn ogen binnen.ihm in die Augen.

Poem H4127
Amsterdam, 2023-09-09
A Change of tongue (Antjie Krog) - 2003
Tale, part 1 § 8
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Krog, Antjie 
 

Answer my kiss, look

at me, get heavy with me --


and talk with your hands.


Kus me, niet ernaast,Küsse mich, sieh mich
kijk me aan, word zwaar met mij --an, werde schwer mit mir, sprich --
praat met je handen.mit deinen Händen.

Poem H4061
Amsterdam, 2023-08-21
Treacherous (Taylor Swift) - 2012
Song (created with Dan Wilson, album "Red")
Collection: After the festivities
Tribute to: Swift, Taylor 
 

Darling, I don't want

to conquer you, but to be --


absorbed in your fire.


Mijn liefste, ik wilIch werde dich nicht
jou niet veroveren, maar --erobern, nur aufgehen --
opgaan in jouw vuur.in deinem Feuer.

Poem H4004
Amsterdam, 2023-07-31
The PowerBook (Jeanette Winterson) - 2000
Novel, chapter "HELP"
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

A kiss, naked I

stand before you, I'm not me --


I am your lover.


Een kus, naakt sta ikEin Kuss, ich bin nackt,
voor jou, ik ben mezelf niet --ich bin nicht ich selbst, sondern --
maar jouw minnares.deine Geliebte.

Poem H3991
Amsterdam, 2023-07-29
The PowerBook (Jeanette Winterson) - 2000
Novel, chapter "SEARCH"
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Winterson, Jeanette 
 

I was seventeen,

with all my being I longed --


to offer myself.


Ik was zeventien,Siebzehn: mein ganzes
heel mijn wezen verlangde --Wesen sehnte sich danach --
om mij te geven.mich hinzugeben.

Poem H3959
Amsterdam, 2023-07-21
Letter to Antonio Cervi (Antonia Pozzi) - 1935
Written on June 29th, 1935
Collection: Tardiness in Acceleration
Tribute to: Pozzi, Antonia 
 

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
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

My heart stays mine, but

my hand I do give you, some-


times my body too.


Mijn hart blijft van mij,Mir bleibt mein Herz, dir
mijn hand geef ik je graag, soms --geb ich meine Hand, manchmal --
mijn lichaam erbij.auch meinen Körper.

Poem H3559
Amsterdam, 2022-11-01
Collection: Dearme
 

You have two arms, so

bow them nicely around me --


then it is for you.


Jij hebt twee armen,Du hast zwei Arme,
strik ze maar mooi om mij heen --knote sie um mich herum --
dan is het voor jou.dann ist es für dich.

Poem H3461
Amsterdam, 2022-09-22
Choose me. Choose me from the whole (Herman de Coninck) - 1992
Poem "Kies mij. Kies mij uit de hele" (collection "Pastorale", 1993)
Collection: Shortages
Tribute to: De Coninck, Herman 
 

I then thought I knew

what love is, and I said yes --


yes, I do love you.


Ik dacht te wetenIch dachte, ich weiß,
wat liefde is, en zei ja --was Liebe ist, und sagte --
ja, ik houd van jou.ja, ich liebe dich.

Poem S1472
Amsterdam, 2022-07-13
To love somebody (Hanny Michaelis) - 1969
Poem "Van iemand houden" (collection "De rots van Gibraltar")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 1960-1979
Tribute to: Michaelis, Hanny 
 

With a gentle urge

the drums of love are beating --


open all my doors.


Met zachte drang slaanTrommeln der Liebe
de trommels van de liefde --schlagen mit sehr sanften Drang --
mijn deuren open.meine Türen auf.

Poem H3294
Amsterdam, 2022-05-14
TGTT (Duke Ellington) - 1968
"TGTT" ("Too Good to Title", 1968, Duke Ellington, album "Second Sacred Concert"), performed by Steven Kamperman (clarinet), Berry van Berkum (organ), Dion Nijland (double bass), Joost Buis (trombone) and Ruben Drent (trumpet) on May 14th, 2022 in the Organpark, and on January 25th, 2025 performed in the Organpark, by Theo Loevendie (piano), Oene van Geel (viola), Yoran Vroom (drums), Jeroen Vierdag (bass) and Claron MacFadden (soprano)
Collection: org ANP ark 
Composer: Ellington, Duke 
 

She opened herself,

spreading her arms and her legs --


like a ripe flower.


Zij opende zich,Sie öffnete sich,
haar armen en haar benen --ihre Arme und Beine --
als een rijpe bloem.wie eine Blume.

Poem H3005
Amsterdam, 2021-08-11
The immaculate (Erwin Mortier) - 2020
Novel "De onbevlekte"
Collection: VacantVoid
Tribute to: Mortier, Erwin 
 

Hi, I don't know you,

but who would I wait for now --


that you are with me?


Dag, ik ken je niet,Ich kenne dich nicht,
maar op wie zou ik wachten --aber: kein Warten mehr, jetzt --
nu jij bij mij bent?wo du bei mir bist!

Poem H2840
Amsterdam, 2020-11-29
Namasté
Collection: Without reserve
 

Making love, you don't

care about blood, it is sweet --


that I am your prey.


Jij maalt niet om bloedBlut ist dir egal
bij het vrijen, het smaakt zoet --beim lieben, es schmeckt sehr süß --
dat ik jouw prooi ben.als deine Beute.

Poem H2747
Amsterdam, 2020-06-21
Collection: Greeting from before
 

I'm roaming my life

with the man who scratches me:


I bleed and I bloom.


Ik zwerf mijn bestaanIch streife herum
met de man die mij bekrast:mit dem Mann, der mich zerkratzt:
ik bloed en ik bloei.ich blute, blühe.

Poem H2570
Amsterdam, 2019-09-29
The woman - I'm roaming through my time (Liesbeth Lagemaat) - 2015
Poem "De vrouw - Ik zwerf door mijn tijd" (collection "Nachtopera")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2010-2019
Tribute to: Lagemaat, Liesbeth 
 

No longer bewitched

yet I still like to see him --


not changed for a bit.


Niet meer betoverdNicht mehr verzaubert,
door hem, toch zie ik hem graag --dennoch seh ich ihn gerne --
geen spat veranderd.gar nicht geändert.

Poem H2434
Amsterdam, 2019-04-17
Collection: More
 

Zywa Wrapped up in feelings

Mama never asks, she just glances
at my tummy, she knows

I don't want a life like hers
Angrily I run through the suburbs

breaking the rules of the families
that live there, I will not bow

Yet I follow
you, wishing

you were following me as well
and your strength was serving me

My happiness next to yours
My pleasure equal to yours

It is not a big difference, even then
I would let you take me

and wrap me up in feelings
of surrender and satisfaction

even then I would run and even then
people would stare at me

Poem 1948
Amsterdam, 2018-11-30
Inspired by "Angry" (Christina Moreno)
Collection: Froend
 

Masculinity,

of all men, is just nothing --


of value in love.


De mannelijkheidJede Männlichkeit
van alle mannen is niets --aller Männer ist gar nichts --
waard in de liefde.wert in der Liebe.

Poem H2295
Amsterdam, 2018-09-27
Born out of love (Muhammad Rumi) - 1250
Ghazal (Ode) 843
Collection: Love Mind and Death
Tribute to: Rumi, Mohamed 
 

Zywa Shall we

You are in doubt, yet
you ask me: shall we?

I imagine it already is
in the way, I think

it will be, with these and those
pros and cons and question marks

I close my eyes to feel it
and to know what I would answer

if you thén would ask me: shall we
now again just like then?

Poem 1496
Amsterdam, 2017-08-08
Collection: The Big Secret
 

When you embrace me

I can't do anything else --


only embrace you.


Als jij mij omhelst,Wenn du mich umarmst,
kan ik niets anders meer doen --kann ich nichts anderes tun --
dan jou omhelzen.als dich umarmen.

Poem H1727
Amsterdam, 2017-07-01
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 
 

Zywa Lamb of God

In those days the soul of a child
still was something to wash
off vices and to leave school

clean as Our Sweet Lord
with nothing but love
to start puberty

A beautiful ideal, to give
my life for people and
heaven and peace on earth

Willing to sacrifice me
I lay unprotected as a lamb
in the blue open air

in a bed of frisky grass
without fleeing the blot
of the eagle falling over me

striking his claws in my tender flesh
and taking me bleeding
to blissful heights

Poem 1318
Amsterdam, 2017-04-29
Collection: Life line 
 

Zywa Bridal

Giving myself bridal and true
but still less than half the truth
with genes that dance like marionettes
on the beat of civil decency

My heart is floating
in the sky, sunlit
bleeding with the moon

The wind blows a mummywill
in me, drifts in front of my eyes
an appropriate daddypicture

Fingers invent me
anew from within
they open me
for brideschildren on earth

Poem 1248
Amsterdam, 2017-04-01
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
 

She gives me a kiss

with her sweet mouth of candy


floss sticking to me.


Ze geeft me een kusIhr Naschmund küsst mich
met haar snoepmond suikerspin --ganz voller Zuckerwatten --
aan mij vastgeplakt.Sie klebt sich an mir.

Poem H0087
Julianadorp, 2011-12-25
Collection: Greeting from before
 

Zywa Interflowed

At night I'm not aware of anything
until suddenly there is the smell of orange
a man who talks to me
dressed in nothing
what leaves to guess

Sleeping I know everything
good and evil a man a man
a word a word and action
the world full of grounds and seed
from which a magical mixture grows

Dreaming I see sharp and soft
a struggle of grass and fur and
right through green and white
stream blue layers of air
interflowing colours

bed-free love

Poem 79
Moutier, 2007-06-14
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
 

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