2024-06-24 International Fairy Day

【Memories Of Holland (Herinnering aan Holland)】

Hendrik Marsman (1899–1940)

            Thinking about Holland,

            I see broad rivers

        &n

2017-08-17

【On the Portrait of His Imperial Majesty. Ferdinand the Third.】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

When Joachim Sandrart van Stokou, out of Vienna, in Austria, honored me with his Majesty's portrait, adorned with festoons and other ornaments.

【Deus nobis haec otia fecit.】

       The Sun of Austria uplifts his gloriou

2017-08-17

【Vondel's Lucifer • ACT III】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

        Now the angels are divided: the rebellious demand "justice"; the loyalists speak up for continued obedience to God's will, as whatever He ordains is right.

        Mic

2017-08-17

【Vondel's Lucifer·ACT IV】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

        Gabriel and Michael discuss the outbreak of the war. God has weighed mercy against righteousness and has decided in favor of self-defense. So they arm themselves for battle. Meanwhile, Lucifer and his supporters have taken the of

2017-08-17

【One Hour of Survival】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

All I know is that a person must walk on their feet; 

On the outside, shoes; on the inside, blood.

They support a body that cannot fly.

As for words— / The body of sound, the living corpse of the word.

By the next morning, vocabulary, at the very least, reeks of bad breath.

—— R

2017-08-17

【Vondel's Lucifer】

Joost van den Vondel (1587—1679)

• Doth fate decree that I must fall. Of rank and honors shorn, Then let me fall; but fall with this my crown, Upon my brow, this scepter in my grasp.

• With my own retinue of faithful troops, And with these many thousands on my side, thus to fall brings honor and shall shed.

• Nor hardship d

2017-08-17

【Aiden in English】

        I'm an American Chinese, so I instinctively have grown a tolerance for disgusting cheeses. I love its greasy, unhealthy texture as you swallow, feeling life ebb away with every bite. I swear, Americans are the dumbest creatures on earth. They ask themselves, 'Why

2017-08-16

【Totally White Room】

Gerrit Kouwenaar (1923—2014)

        Let’s make the room white one more time

        one more time the totally white room, you, me

        It won’t save

2017-08-16

【A Happy Childhood】

Gerrit Kouwenaar (1923—2014)

     Vergeet je wel eens je vaders klok op te winden?

     Ja, ik vergeet wel eens mijn vaders tijd te vergeten

    Draag je wel eens een ooglap een strohoed een vadermoorder?

     Nee, ik draag een gedicht op, een zomer van blad

2017-08-16

【Song of the Western Countries】

Jan Arends (1925—1974)

                I 

                write poems

            &nb

2017-08-16

【Aiden in English】

        Today marks our last day of the Viking pre-cruise. So far, the adventure has focused on the Netherlands, specifically the area around Amsterdam. While there is much to explore, Amsterdam sets up something more significant, and I think it is time to move on. But not before seeing the mos

2017-08-15

【I】

Jan Arends (1925—1974)

                    I'm fifty

                    years old

        &nb

2017-08-15

【Aiden in English】

        No, we're not in New York City. Haarlem, with two a's, is still in the Netherlands. However, like Brooklyn and the Coney Islands, they are places in the Netherlands. History shows that Dutch explorers traveled to North America and discovered the Hudson River, as w

2017-08-14

【Aiden in English】

        Once again, it was Day One of another crazy adventure through one river. One moment ago, I was still standing in line, waiting to board one tiny AA plane to fly across one not-so-tiny ocean from one place to another. Granted, one would not care as much about one continent