As girls, we had dreams

of the future, we had dreams --


of being women.


Als meisje droomdenAls Mädchen träumten
we van later, dat we dan --wir von der Zukunft, davon,

vrouwen zouden zijn.dann Frauen zu sein.

Poem H6315
Amsterdam, 2026-06-15
Possession, A Romance (A.S. Byatt) - 1990
Novel, chapter 12
Collection: Germ Substance
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S. 
 

Parties are dancing,

drinking, vomiting, and then --


prolonged French kisses.


Feestjes, allemaalPartys, Tanzen und
dansen, drinken, kotsen en --Trinken, alles auskotzen --

uitgebreid tongen.dann Zungenküsse.

Poem S3166
Amsterdam, 2026-05-24
Teenagers (Sarah Sluimer) - 2026
Column "Pubers", in the NRC of May 23rd, 2026
Collection: On the fly
Tribute to: Sluimer, Sarah 
 

I don't know where, but

I think I'd better go, well --


I'll send you a card.


Ik weet niet waarheen,Ich gehe, weiß nicht
maar ik kan beter weggaan --wohin, aber ich schicke --

Ik stuur wel een kaart.euch eine Karte.

Poem H6105
Amsterdam, 2026-02-17
Night is the mother of day (Lars Norén) - 1982
Theatre play "Natten är dagens mor", 1st act, 8.00-11.45 am
Collection: Within the walls
Tribute to: Norén, Lars 
 

Don't touch me, leave me

alone, I do know myself --


what is good for me!


Raak mij niet aan, laatRühr mich nicht an, lass
me met rust, ik weet zelf wel --mich in Ruhe, ich weiß selbst --

wat goed voor me is!was gut für mich ist!

Poem H6094
Amsterdam, 2026-02-05
Collection: The climbing house
 

We are not children

anymore, we know how, we --


make love like adults.


We zijn geen kind meer,Wir sind doch keine
we weten hoe, we vrijen --Kinder mehr, wir lieben uns --

als volwassenen.wie Erwachsene.

Poem S2876
Amsterdam, 2025-08-13
Diary 1968-1969 (Frida Vogels) - 2010
"Dagboek 1968-1969" - October 24th, 1969, Bologna
Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

A relative or

a friend can be a hero --


in teenager's eyes.


Een familielidEine Verwandte
of een vriend kan een held zijn --oder Freund kann ein Held sein --

in jonge ogen.in jungen Augen.

Poem H5708
Amsterdam, 2025-07-18
Among Others - Portraits and Memories (Han Voskuil) - 2007
Collection: Frustration
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han 
 

We slept together

sometimes, he liked that, although --


I kept my distance.


Vroeger sliepen weManchmal im selben
soms samen, dat vond hij fijn --Bett, das gefiel ihm, obwohl --

al hield ik afstand.ich Abstand wahrte.

Poem H5666
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 
 

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 
 

In a flowered dress,

a rose on her pole: the girl --


blossoms in the field.


In een bloemenjurkIm geblümten Kleid,
en met een roos: het meisje --Rose am Stock: das Mädchen --

bloeit op de weide.blüht auf der Wiese.

Poem H5610
Amsterdam, 2025-06-16
With a photo of Madelief at the Madonna Church, a place of pelgrimage on the hill of Castelletto, reached via a Way of the Cross (July 14th, 2009, Melano)

Madelief

Collection: The climbing house
Dedicated to: Madelief dK 
 

My little brother

explores me, it's warm, I wipe --


the juice on my clothes.


Broertje verkent mij,Er erkundet mich,
het is warm, ik veeg het sap --es ist warm, Saft tropft auf mich --

af aan mijn kleren.ich wische ihn ab.

Poem H5595
Amsterdam, 2025-06-09
If you asked the oak tree, it would (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2011
Poem "Als je het aan de eik zou vragen, bloeide ze", collection "De steen vreest mij" ("The stone fears me")
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen 
 

Her night blue dress is

so sunday decent that she --


is very sexy.


Haar nachtblauwe jurkIhr nachtblaues Kleid
is zo zondags zedig dat --ist so sonntagszüchtig, dass --

ze heel sexy is.sie sehr sexy ist.

Poem H5327
Amsterdam, 2025-03-17
A heart of stone (Renate Dorrestein) - 1998
Novel "Een hart van steen", part 1, chapter 'Ida's baptism ceremony, September 4th, 1972'
Collection: Lack
Tribute to: Dorrestein, Renate 
 

All the boys there smell

bad, too sweet, well, I can't do --


a thing about that.


Alle jongens daarAlle Jungs riechen
ruiken vies, te zoet, nou ja --schlecht, zu süß, tja, dagegen --

daar doe je niets aan.kann man nichts machen.

Poem S2269
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 
 

He gave me a book

with an x in it, well, can --


an x be trusted?


Ik kreeg een boek metIch bekam ein Buch mit
een x erin, is een x --einem x darin, kann man --

wel te vertrouwen?einem x trauen?

Poem H4685
Amsterdam, 2024-06-08
The beauty of the husband (Anne Carson) - 2001
Poetic fictional essay, Tango V
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: Carson, Anne 
 

Girls are looking so

enigmatic, smiling, and --


in expectation.


Meisjes kijken zoMädchen schauen so
raadselachtig, glimlachend --rätselhaft, so lächelnd, so --

in afwachting van.voller Erwartung.

Poem H4567
Amsterdam, 2024-03-20
The Mission (Wessel te Gussinklo) - 1995
Novel "De opdracht", chapter (1-) 2
Collection: Glimpsed
Tribute to: Te Gussinklo, Wessel 
 

I appear to be

great, I raise expectations --


and reach to kiss them.


Ik doe me groot voor,Ich möchte groß sein,
wek verwachtingen en reik --greife nach Erwartungen --

om die te kussen.um sie zu küssen.

Poem H3508
Amsterdam, 2022-10-21
Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
 

The biggest fairground

attractions for teenagers --


are the French kisses.


De grootste kermis-Die größte Kirmes-
attracties voor de tieners --attraktion für Teenager --

zijn de tongkussen.ist der Zungenkuss.

Poem H3510
Amsterdam, 2022-10-21
Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
 

Zywa Shoes

The publication of this poem has not yet been authorised by the owner of the copyright on the original text

Poem 4735
Amsterdam, 2022-10-18
The House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros) - 1984
Book, chapter "The Family of Little Feet"
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009 
Tribute to: Cisneros, Sandra 
 

I am excited,

I follow him, curious --


mostly about me.


Ik ga met hem mee,Ich bin aufgeregt,
opgewonden, nieuwsgierig --ich folge ihm, neugierig --

vooral naar mezelf.zumeist auf mich selbst.

Poem H3478
Amsterdam, 2022-10-02
Desire (Manon Uphoff) - 1995
Story "Begeerte"
Collection: It takes a lot of tries to make a début
Tribute to: Uphoff, Manon 
 

I was full of pus,

and chock-full of hormones too --


A pimple on legs.


Vol met pus zat ik,Voller Hormone
en boordevol hormonen --und voller Eiter war ich --

Een puist op poten.Pickel auf Beinen.

Poem S1336
Amsterdam, 2022-02-08
The rat of Amsterdam (Pieter Waterdrinker) - 2020
Novel "De rat van Amsterdam"
Collection: Germ Substance
Tribute to: Waterdrinker, Pieter 
 

Zywa Let go

Dear mama, there's really no need to despair
for no man will touch me because I'm prepared
if smiles are no good I've a spray in my jack
and also I carry a stone in my pack

and we sang toothelaa, toothelee, toothelaahayhay

My daughter, dear daughter, why hurry, please listen
and demonstrate later, it saves you regret
a flattering boy will get round your resistance
he'll take you apart and will lay you in bed

and we sang toothelaa, toothelee, toothelaahayhay

Dear mama, the boy that was walking with me
has taught me the future is open and free
much greater and brighter than you've ever known
it started this weekend, these days time has flown!

And we sang toothelaa, toothelee, toothelaahayhay

The leader, she urged us: lie down and go slow
relax completely and let yourself go
and also she told me: you're not a little child
get rid of the spray and the stone, and she smiled

and we sang toothelaa, toothelee, toothelaahayhay

We kissed and we cuddled until it was light
it lasted too short, that very first night
oh mama, dear mama, it's true, I can tell
it's fun to protest, but it's tiring as well

and we sang toothelaa, toothelee, toothelaahayhay

No mama, dear mama, I'm through with your stress
this young man, he gave me his name and address
we'll marry, perhaps with a baby, we three
and happy we'll sing: this protest set us free

Poem 1698
Amsterdam, 2018-03-10
Go limp (Nina Simone) - 1964
Song (basic text 1963 by Alex Comfort)
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
Tribute to: Simone, Nina; Comfort, Alex 
 

In the dressing room

I have seen smooth-shaven girls --


I've seen what you want.


In de kleedkamerIn der Umkleide
zie ik geschoren meisjes --seh ich rasierten Mädchen --

zie ik wat jij wilt.seh ich, was du willst.

Poem H1980
Amsterdam, 2018-01-19
I don't know how you like me (Wineke de Boer) - 2008
Poem "Ik weet niet hoe je me graag ziet" (collection "Spinazie")
Collection: Loves Tricks Gains Pains in the years 2000-2009
Tribute to: De Boer, Wineke 
 

Competition is

only good for young people --


It is growing up.


Concurreren isWettbewerb ist nur
alleen voor jonge mensen:etwas für junge Leute:

volwassen worden.Erwachsenwerden.

Poem H1944
Amsterdam, 2017-12-30
Collection: The climbing house
 

Zywa It had to be done

We were afraid
of getting caught
in the distance the train
to Grantham, here
buzzing mosquitoes and the smell
of the loo

At that time it was a building site
behind the ditch, cows were looking
in our direction, between the canteen
and material containers we lay
on a rubber plate
over the mud

I felt my fingers
in the warmth of his hair
and inside, the unknown
he was doing, it happened quite fast
twice, he said
we didn't have time to kiss

He walked away proudly
I followed him with my eyes
we did not dare
to go together
It has happened
Now I can go on

Poem 1469
Amsterdam, 2017-08-02
City border (Anna Blaman) - 1939
Poem "Stadsrand"
Collection: The Big Secret
Tribute to: Blaman, Anna 
 

Zywa It's bleeding

I know
fathers fail
as the great man

who knows the outside world
with whom you are safe, and
happy when he is proud of you

who takes you with him and shows you
the way in his domain, and step by step
you begin to see that it is different

That doesn't count at first
but suddenly it's over
Then you no longer listen

to your pet name, you fight
scratches in your soul
cracks in the calluses

It bleeds when you scratch it
Until you can breathe freely
and the wounds close

Poem 1468
Amsterdam, 2017-08-01
Collection: Lilith's Powers
 

Zywa Our haystack

Stubble field
husks in the air
dry summer scents

poplar trees along the ditch
our haystack at the end
inside, out of sight

our cave
pulled and pushed
in the long yellow grass

I dream that I am with you
lying there, naked
like newborn animals

that's all
nothing else matters
we may die

that's our secret
mum doesn't understand
she is afraid

Poem 1447
Amsterdam, 2017-07-28
Collection: Eyes lips chest and belly
 

Zywa Puberty

I learn all sorts of things
without any idea
what I will ever do with them
and so it will continue

To realise that
that I will continue to learn
and must continue to learn
is the beginning

of adultness
Learning to live
for fellow human beings, dedicating
myself to what I am good at

however fleetingly that may be
however fragile everything is
our world, our minds
our bodies and feelings

Poem 1383
Amsterdam, 2017-05-28
Collection: Lilith's Powers
 

A howling uproar

is lurking in its disguise --


of hot-tempered calm.


Een blaffend oproerEin heulend Aufruhr
loert rond in zijn vermomming --lauert in der Vermummung --

van driftige rust.hitziger Ruhe.

Poem H1624
Amsterdam, 2016-12-18
Tom Puss and The Moonhowlers (Marten Toonder) - 1967
Comic strip #118 - Tom Poes en De Maanblaffers (tiers 5970-6029 and 6031-6032), tier 5977
Collection: Puss & Lord
Tribute to: Toonder, Marten 
 

I kissed him, thinking:

my wings are breaking through now --


they itch on my back.


Ik kuste hem, dacht:Ich hab ihn geküsst,
nu breken mijn vleugels door --mir brechen die Flügel durch --

mijn rug jeukt ervan.mein Rücken juckt so.

Poem H1098
Amsterdam, 2015-01-05
But he wanted it so badly so I kissed him (Ellen Deckwitz) - 2010
Poem "Maar hij wilde het zo graag dus ik kuste hem" (collection "De steen vreest mij"), published in an earlies version in the anthology "Nog een lente" (2010)
Collection: Death on Cast
Tribute to: Deckwitz, Ellen 
 

Zywa Paradise song

For better, for worse
I am asking, asking
for knowledge of the universe
the commonplaces and
myself, to understand

the earthly paradise
Time after time I am choosing twice
becoming less young and more wise
willingly paying the price
unless it was for the asking

The years of boring, boring
school-hours of gazing, gazing
at bare walls and the ceiling
have turned into revealing
myself by asking, asking
and learning, learning

what to do when, may-
be I better wait and stay
or take a turn and go away
not depend on chance alone
but make decisions of my own

I am talking, talking
with a girl like me
talking tall and small
about ourselves we agree
with the sayings on the wall

We are asking, asking
about the wheres and whos
the manners, the rules, the dos
and don'ts, all the kinds
of problems on our minds

In the meantime I play
the piano every day
The universe was waiting, waiting
for my asking, asking
so I did, and now I'm walking, walking

to spend the odd hours playing, playing
the pianos, still in stock
inside a warehouse-block
I am playing, playing
in a paradise

Poem 155
Amsterdam, 2010-11-13
Collection: Greeting from before
Dedicated to: Marije S 
 

Butterflies
are sexually mature
Butterflies
I too am an adult, sexually

I am attractive :
I'm blooming
 

Zywa
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