Article
Dutch and Flemish Poetry Day
Editorial: 27 January 2011
January 24, 2011
One of the Netherlands’ best-loved poets, Campert does much with few words: in An Old Story, his simple language and speech-like rhythms combine with sharp-eyed observation and often very moving personal reflection on themes including daily life, aging, politics and art. These poems are at times funny, self-deprecating, wistful; in other moments angry and wry. An Old Story is a gem of a mini collection, and we’re delighted to publish it on PIW.
We’ve also launched a mobile version of An Old Story, which includes text and audio recordings of the poems.
The book itself can be bought from booksellers throughout the Low Countries from 27 January. For more information (in Dutch) about the book, and about Dutch and Flemish National Poetry Day, visit www.gedichtendag.com. Remco Campert was first published on PIW in 2007. The poems from An Old Story join others we have already featured. You can view these and others by Remco Campert on his poet page, or via the links below.
An Old Story
SCALE MODEL
IN THE RESTAURANT
OLD STORY
POETRY
PHOTOGRAPH AFTER THE RAID
MUMBLINGS
ARRANGEMENT
FORGOTTEN FIELD
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
SAILOR’S SONG
Welcome to a special issue of PIW celebrating Dutch and Flemish Poetry Day, which takes place on 27 January. Various poetry events and readings are organised around the Netherlands and Belgium to commemorate the day, and a Poetry Day chapbook is also commissioned from a leading poet. This year, ten poems, which make up the chapbook Een oud geluid (An Old Story), were written by Dutch poet Remco Campert.
We published one of these, ‘Forgotten Field’, in our 15 January issue, and today the remaining nine follow. They are accompanied by audio recordings of Remco Campert reading his own work, along with translations into English by Donald Gardner.One of the Netherlands’ best-loved poets, Campert does much with few words: in An Old Story, his simple language and speech-like rhythms combine with sharp-eyed observation and often very moving personal reflection on themes including daily life, aging, politics and art. These poems are at times funny, self-deprecating, wistful; in other moments angry and wry. An Old Story is a gem of a mini collection, and we’re delighted to publish it on PIW.
We’ve also launched a mobile version of An Old Story, which includes text and audio recordings of the poems.
The book itself can be bought from booksellers throughout the Low Countries from 27 January. For more information (in Dutch) about the book, and about Dutch and Flemish National Poetry Day, visit www.gedichtendag.com. Remco Campert was first published on PIW in 2007. The poems from An Old Story join others we have already featured. You can view these and others by Remco Campert on his poet page, or via the links below.
An Old Story
SCALE MODEL
IN THE RESTAURANT
OLD STORY
POETRY
PHOTOGRAPH AFTER THE RAID
MUMBLINGS
ARRANGEMENT
FORGOTTEN FIELD
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
SAILOR’S SONG
© Sarah Ream
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