| They ask the writer: | |
| With how many lies have you -- | |
| shown us what is true? | |
| Men vraagt de schrijver: | Man fragt den Autor: |
| Met welke leugens laat u -- | Mit welchen Lügen zeigen -- |
| ons de waarheid zien? | Sie uns die Wahrheit? |
Vaison-la-Romaine, 2026-06-05
Mr. Sludge, 'The Medium' (Robert Browning) - 1864
Conclusion of the poem from the collection "Dramatis Personae"; included as a preface to the novel "Possession, A Romance" (1990, A.S. Byatt)
Collection: A profession
Tribute to: Byatt, A.S.; Browning, Robert
| Whoever wants to | |
| describe their life will have to -- | |
| dare to hurt others. | |
| Wie zijn leven wil | Ich will mein Leben |
| beschrijven moet anderen -- | beschreiben, deshalb muss ich -- |
| pijn durven te doen. | andere kränken. |
Amsterdam, 2026-04-24
My struggle 6. The End (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2011
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Sjette bok" (translated 2018), part 9 - 2011, Glemmingbro, near Ystad (about November 2009, upon the release of part 2 - A Man in Love)
Collections: Writing, Whirligig Scribbler
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| To me, writing is | |
| everything! I write for life -- | |
| or death, but who cares? | |
| Schrijven is alles! | Schreiben ist alles! |
| Ik schrijf op leven en dood -- | Schreiben auf Leben und Tod -- |
| Maar wie geeft erom? | Aber wen kümmert's? |
Amsterdam, 2026-04-06
My struggle 5. Some Rain Must Fall (Karl Ove Knausgård) - 2010
Autobiographical novel "Min Kamp. Femte bok" (translated 2015), part 7 - October 1990, Bergen
Collections: Leaving, Whirligig Scribbler
Tribute to: Knausgård, Karl Ove
| Write about taboos, | |
| write about what is not said -- | |
| and what is not read. | |
| Schrijf over taboes, | Beschreibe Tabus, |
| over wat niet gezegd wordt -- | das, was nicht gesagt wird, und -- |
| en niet gelezen. | nicht gelesen wird. |
Amsterdam, 2025-12-06
Collection: The light of words
| Write right from your heart, | |
| write truly and carefully -- | |
| write without posing. | |
| Schrijf recht uit je hart, | Schreibe direkt aus |
| waarachtig en zorgvuldig -- | deinem Herzen, sorgfältig -- |
| dus zonder poses. | wahr, ohne Posen. |
Amsterdam, 2024-08-23
The Black Prince (Iris Murdoch) - 1973
Comical novel, A Celebration of Love, part One
Collections: Dreams of love, WriteWiser signage
Tribute to: Murdoch, Iris
| Am I vindictive? | |
| With flaming sword, an angel -- | |
| telling you the truth? | |
| Ben ik wraakzuchtig? | Bin ich rachsüchtig? |
| Met vlammend zwaard, een engel -- | Mit Flammenschwert, ein Engel -- |
| die de waarheid zegt? | der die Wahrheit sagt? |
Amsterdam, 2023-08-01
The Queen of the Tambourine (Jane Gardam) - 1991
Novel, § January 22nd? (1990)
Collection: WriteWiser signage
Tribute to: Gardam, Jane
|
Not write You Now! or I Why? |
Amsterdam, 2019-06-27
"U Nu!" ("You Now!", 1620, Vondel)
"I Why?" (1946, Charles Ghigna)
Anything that is illuminated is not hidden
According to the Greek word aletheia a truth is: unhiddenness
Collection: The light of words
Tribute to: Vondel; Chinga, Charles
| Writing is being | |
| honest, daring to inveigh -- | |
| the world full of truths. | |
| Schrijven is eerlijk | Schreiben ist ehrlich |
| zijn, de wereld vol waarheid -- | sein, wagen, die Welt voller -- |
| durven te schelden. | Wahrheit zu schimpfen. |
Amsterdam, 2019-05-26
Letters from Genoa (Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer) - 2016
"Brieven uit Genua", February 25th, 2015
Collection: Palace of the night
Tribute to: Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard
| Writing ruthlessly, | |
| although I love you so much -- | |
| although I am scared. | |
| Nietsontziend schrijven, | Rücksichtslos schreiben, |
| hoezeer ik ook van jou houd -- | trotz meiner Liebe zu dir -- |
| hoe bang ik ook ben. | trotz all meiner Angst. |
Amsterdam, 2019-05-26
Letters from Genoa (Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer) - 2016
"Brieven uit Genua", February 25th, 2015
Collection: Palace of the night
Tribute to: Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard
|
My hand, accomplice, writes down |
Amsterdam, 2018-12-15
Collection: The light of words
| Writing it all down, | |
| shamelessly showing myself -- | |
| as I know myself. | |
| Alles opschrijven, | Alles aufschreiben, |
| schaamteloos me laten zien -- | mich schamlos so zeigen, wie -- |
| zoals ík mij ken. | ich selbst mich kenne. |
Amsterdam, 2018-01-03
Diary 1977-1978 (Frida Vogels) - 2014
May 30th, 1977 in Bologna - About "De naakte waarheid" ("The naked truth", written 1968-1978, published in "De harde kern" - 1 ["The hard core" - 1]), also mentioned on October 14th, 1968 ("Diary 1968-1969", 2010)
Collections: Helices, Look at me
Tribute to: Vogels, Frida
| To write a sincere | |
| book about my life: I wouldn't -- | |
| have any friends left. | |
| Over mijn leven | Ein ehrliches Buch |
| een oprecht boek schrijven: ik -- | über mein Leben schreiben: |
| hield geen vriend over. | keine Freunde mehr. |
Amsterdam, 2017-11-02
On closer inspection (Han Voskuil) - 1963
Autobiographical novel "Bij nader inzien" - December 6th, 1952, Amsterdam
Collections: Elude, WriteWiser signage
Tribute to: Voskuil, Han
| With scraps of paper | |
| I am lighting little lights -- | |
| in hearts of readers. | |
| Met stukjes papier | Mit Papierfetzen |
| steek ik kleine lichtjes aan -- | zünde ich mal Lichter an -- |
| in lezersharten. | in Leserherzen. |
Amsterdam, 2015-09-19
How little use I am (Hilde Domin) - 1957
Poem "Wie wenig nütze ich bin"
Collection: Look at me
Tribute to: Domin, Hilde
