Sometimes the one who inspires you can do the same as you do. In this case, Honoré de Balzac’s inspiration was also active as a poet himself. Marceline Desbordes-Valmore was a creditable poet who left the world many beautiful (French) poems. She also wrote poetry herself, something that must not be forgotten.
From time to time, The Ministry of Poetic Affairs translates some Dutch poems into English and analyses these poems. This isn’t any different with the poem by Jan Kal (born 1946) entitled “Mont Ventoux.” This mountain is related to a sporting event that is known all over the world.
When no one else can be prosecuted, who is left? Why didn’t he speak out before? Eventually, he did and he wrote a poem about it. This is “First they came for the Jews” by Martin Niemöller. There is a side note to this poem though.
This poem is inspired by horrific events. The poem that the Dutch historian, professor, writer and poet wrote in March 1943 was inspired by the arrest of his wife by the Germans. His wife would not live to see the and of the war. She died in the Sobibor death camp.
Many poets wrote about geographic locations. Christian Johann Heinrich Heine is no exception. He wrote a poem about rock Lorelei in Germany. His poem, “Lorelei” is all about this famous geographic location.
As not everyone in this world can understand the Dutch language, it was a good idea to translate some of the work written by the Belgian poet Paul van Ostaijen. This makes the work of this abstract poet more accessible.
Is the poem written by Floris Brown a love poem or is it about music? You decide what to do with the poem “On the longing of the wind.”
