We can do nothing

in the quiet of our waiting --


for the tidal wave.


We kunnen niets doenWir können nichts tun
in de rust van het wachten --in der Stille des Wartens --
tot de vloedgolf valt.auf die Flutwelle.

Poem H5809
Amsterdam, 2025-08-11
Quiet (Frida Vogels) - 1994
Verse "Rust", published in the collection "De harde kern 3" ("The hard core 3", part IX [Marriage]) and in "Diary 1968-1969" (2010) - January 11th, 1969, Bologna
Between two house-high waves

Collection: Between us
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

The sea is too vast,

I crouch down on a rock, wait --


for the moon to rise.


De zee is te weids,Das Meer ist zu weit,
ik hurk ineen op een steen --ich hocke auf dem Boden --
tot de maan opkomt.bis der Mond aufgeht.

Poem S2777
Amsterdam, 2025-07-17
By sea, I no longer see (Frida Vogels) - 2005
Verse "Aan zee staand, zie ik niet meer", published in "Diary 1954-1957" - September 21st, 1956, Rome
Collection: Old sore
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida 
 

Zywa Mumbai

Only with a stranger
the man I cared for
and with whom I spoke
as if it were him

after all those years
of waiting in vain
back in the city
of my dreams

where young people grow
old from their fate and
swallow their anger
hoping

for redemption, only there
with that man could I
say goodbye
to the waiting

Poem 5628
Amsterdam, 2025-03-14
All we imagine as light (Payal Kapadia) - 2024
Film "Prabhayay Ninachathellam"
Collection: Changing Times
Tribute to: Kapadia, Payal 
 

Wait, I want to wait

till everything is settled --


If I can hold on.


Wacht, ik wil wachtenWarte, warte nur,
tot alles op orde is --bis alles in Ordnung ist --
Als ik dat volhoud.Wenn ich durchhalte.

Poem S2341
Amsterdam, 2024-09-03
The Message to the Planet (Iris Murdoch) - 1989
Novel, part Four
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris 
 

Count your fingers, count

the little raindrops and wait --


if love is coming?


Tel je vingers, telZähle die Finger,
de regendruppels en wacht --zähle die Regentropfen --
of de liefde komt?bis die Liebe kommt?

Poem S2316
Amsterdam, 2024-08-21
Little girl blue (Lorenz Hart / Nina Simone) - 1958
Song (1935, Lorenz Hart, music Richard Rodgers, for the musical "Jumbo"), sung in 1958 by Nina Simone
Collection: Longing and Loss
Tribute to: Hart, Lorenz; Simone, Nina 
 

Waiting is living

half, putting deeds off, looking --


in front of oneself.


Wachten is maar halfWarten ist nur halb
leven, actie uitstellen --leben, Aktion aufschieben --
voor je uit kijken.vor sich hin schauen.

Poem S2091
Amsterdam, 2024-01-10
Collection: Greeting from before
 

Waiting, staring out

if she's finally coming --


The tea is finished.


Wachten, naar buitenWarten und hinaus
staren of ze eraan komt --starren, ob sie kommt, den Tee --
De thee is al op.ist ausgetrunken.

Poem H4098
Amsterdam, 2023-08-31
The shining armour (Simon Vestdijk) - 1956
Novel "Het glinsterend pantser", chapter 1-II. An artistic family
Collection: Inmost
Tribute to: Vestdijk, Simon 
 

We're waiting, sadly

the angels hang there, over --


our iniquity.


We wachten, treurigWir warten, traurig
hangen de engelen daar --hängen die Engel über --
boven ons onrecht.unserem Unrecht.

Poem S1863
Amsterdam, 2023-08-16
the making visible of all kinds of raids (Antjie Krog) - 2022
Poem "die sigbaarmaking van allerlei strooptogte"(collection "Plunder" ["Pillage"])
Collection: Inmost
Tribute to: Krog, Antjie 
 

I just sit and wait

in the bus shelter, nowhere --


a home in the night.


Zitten te wachtenIn der Bushalte-
in het bushokje, nergens --stelle warten, nirgendwo --
een thuis in de nacht.gibt’s ein Zuhause.

Poem S1776
Amsterdam, 2023-05-23
That afternoon (Nafiss Nia) - 2023
On the run from deportation after a rejected asylum application
Film "Die middag"

Collection: Greeting from before
Tribute to: Nia, Nafiss 
 

Resigned he stands firm,

while he keeps smiling bravely --


under his moustache.


Berustend houdt hij stand,Gelassen hält er
met een moedige glimlach --sich, mutig ist sein Lächeln --
onder zijn krulsnor.unter dem Schnurrbart.

Poem H3636
Amsterdam, 2023-01-01
The twelve letters (Luigi Pirandello) - 1897
Story "Le dodici lettere"
Collection: Actively Passive
Tribute to: Pirandello, Luigi 
 

Maybe it is time,

but I hesitate to go --


or am I there yet?


Misschien is het tijd,Vielleicht ist es Zeit,
maar ik aarzel om te gaan --ich zögere zu gehen --
of ben ik er al?ich mag schon da sein.

Poem S0954
Amsterdam, 2019-10-24
Endgame (Samuel Beckett) - 1957
Theater Rotterdam with Hans Croiset
Collection: On the fly
Tribute to: Beckett, Samuel 
 

Zywa Spoon alone

A few more days
too many nights

again I'm not coming around
to anything, trying not to

think of him
hidden in bed

a lonely spoon
seeking his smell in the pillow

the pillow the bell of my heart
the birds somewhere asleep in the dark

a few more days

Poem 1141
Amsterdam, 2017-03-06
Collection: Heart's Delight
 

Zywa Meanwhile

It's been discussed, explained
and considered to a decision
a job, nothing more

to do, just wait
make ends meet
with some chores

a nice story in due time
be open to good luck
accept with a friendly smile

and proudly what casually is
given with love, and forget
what you are waiting for

Poem 1113
Amsterdam, 2017-03-03
Collection: WoofWoof
 

I already was

for us, I still wait for you --


dead and buried there.


In het land dat jijIch war schon im Land
voor ons droomt, wacht ik op jou --uns träumst, warte ich auf dich --
dood en begraven.tot und begraben.

Poem S0332
Amsterdam, 2015-09-20
Macabre race (Hilde Domin) - 1953
Poem "Makabrer Wettlauf"
Collection: VacantVoid
Tribute to: Domin, Hilde 
 

I am monitored

in a small room with a view --


of life that goes on.


Mijn hart wordt bewaaktIch werd' überwacht
op een kamer met uitzicht:in einem Raum mit Ausblick --
het leven gaat door.auf Weiterleben.

Poem H0448
Amsterdam, 2013-05-06
Hospital (heart monitoring department)
Collection: Life line 
 

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