- being -
Wêzen
Wêzen (Being) is the title of my illustrated poetry collection. This was published in 2017 by Bornmeer publishers.
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Wêzen describes my attempt to reinvent myself. An act that requires both introspection and an advanced sense of place and time.
The poems are written in Frisian, the second language of The Netherlands and my mother tongue. Here are some quotes from this collection, plus illustrating pictures.
(translation by Rosa van der Meer)
tuskentiid
meantime
dit is de oere
dy’t wennet yn ’e beammen
de tiid dy glydt
fan ’e fearren fan ’e ûle
dit is de oere
dêr ’t wy fan dreame
it wêzen dat glânzget
en glinsteret op ’e mar
dit is de oere
sla wetter fan dyn hannen
en lit drippen fleane
yn ’t rûn yn ’t rûn
this is the hour
that lives in trees
the time which glides
from the feathers of the owl
this is the hour
we all dream of
the being that shines
and glisters on the lake
this is the hour
shake the water from your hands
and let drops fly
round and round
keppel
behoede
foar de swarte dobbe
fan it hielal
jou ik my del
spared
from the black pit
of the universe
I am at rest
herd
twadde
libben
second life
as ik yn myn tinken
reizgje nei wat wist is
wêr gean ik dan hinne
when I in my mind
travel to what has been
where do I go
kabbelje
rippling
It lûd reizget hjoed by ûnbekende paden lâns
en fynt syn wjerklank op ’e nij
helder kabbelet de tiid
sound travels today along unknown paths
and finds its resonance again
clear the time ripples
hyndertún
horsegarden
earm yn earm bewege wy
yn in skadich park fol
ripe beien
with linked arms we move
in a park rich in shadows filled with ripe berries
ynkear
reflection
ik libje yn alderhanne wearelden
net ien is minen
ik sil op ’e nij geboaren wurde moatte
I live in many worlds
not one is mine
I will have to be born again
rûzje
rustle
mei it ferline
gie ek de wierheid oan ’e swier
with the past
the truth sang its own song
glinsterfinster
sparkleglass
in kloft ljippen
dûnset mei opljochtsjende
wite búkjes
a flock of lapwings
dance with glowing
white bellies
wetterrêst
waterserenity
de giseljende stoarmen
fan wat der wie en wat der soe
se jouwe harren del
the lashing storms
of what was and what would be
they surrender
opsluten
locked
IIs is opsluten wetter
Ice is imprisoned water
brâning
surf
kopke ûnder, dit stuit in brâning
breed oerbûgjend
emerged under water, this moment a surf
broadly bending
desiderium
nostalgia
De azem fan ’e streamen blies
de seilen bol fan wêzen
sa sêft en soel
sa wie it libben doe
the breath of the streams blow
the sails full of being
so soft and sultry
life was then
ien
one
deselde en toch oars
al wat libbet is ien
the same yet different
all that lives is as one
kant
waterside lace
as loft stûket
tusken muorren
en ik achter behang
plak
sa flak bin ik
when air chokes
between walls
and I get stuck
behind wallpaper
that is how flat I am
