Harbor to harbor in the bookworm

A presentation in German and English in Strasbourg, France in the Bookworm, the English-American Bookshop is an intimate affair. The small bookshop however makes the poets get close to their listeners, who thus also lend their deepest attention. It was a warm revisiting of place and people.

It was the French presentation of Sounds of Harbour, by six poets and Felsenleiter, written by Fred Schywek. The bi-lingual experiment worked also between the German poems and its English translation. The listeners were, among others, deeply impressed by 'Wenn mann nichts hat'
When Fred read from Felsenleiter, there was absolute silence and concentration... Also acknowledgement of the quality of his writing.

es wird licht

ein lichter Wald

eine Rohre mit Abstand

von Wand zu Wand

von Baum zu Baum

in dieser Nacht

ist alles möglich

Oh,

es wird licht hier.
*

it’s becoming light

a light forest

a tube with distance

from wall to wall

from tree to tree

in this night

all is possible

Oh.

it’s becoming light here.

***

Furthermore, the anthology 'Love in Holland and Flanders' was presented and poems were offered from 'Werkwoorden, Werkworte, Workbook' 
With one of the poems, the owner of the shop burst into tears, asked the text and had mailed it to the other end of the world by the end of the poetry evening:

Early morn

when summer

breaks

into autumn

The first

I saw

   was Thee

The first I

   felt

   smelt

the first

I became

   was we

*

All this was the last event in the year of Ruhrgebiet 2010, European Capital of Culture , organized by Fred Schywek. Yet expect more poetic action next year.

Life

Lucienne Stassaert, one of the Grand Ladies of poetry written in Dutch, reads her latest cycle Leven - Leben - Life. She is accompanied by Jean Demey on the clarinette who improvises with feeling and intelligence carrying her words.
Fred Schywek reads his German translation of the following poem: Leven (3)

Verkoold als het is

door een al te hoge hitte

ligt het als een gewezen

ster voor het rapen

in een steeg

vol geblakerde stilte –

Je kan er niet

in of uit

schaduwen tellen

is al wat je rest

tijdens het knakken

van een vroege herfst

zodra de wind

een buikspreker wordt

op zoek naar een uitweg –

* 

Verkohlt wie es ist

durch viel zu hohe Temperatur

liegt es als ein ausgeglühter

Stern kurz vor dem Aufheben

in einer Gasse

voll mit schwarzer geräucherter Stille -

Du kannst da

weder rein noch raus

Schatten zähl'n

ist all das was dir bleibt

zur Zeit des Knackens

des frühen Herbstes

alsdann der Wind

sich verwandelt in einen Bauchredner

auf Suche nach Ausweg -

German: Fred Schywek

*

Charred as it is

by too high a heat

it lays there as a has been    

star up for grabs

in an alley

full fire-blackened silence -

you can not enter it

nor leave

counting shadows

is ll that is left to you

in the cracking   

of an early autumn

as soon as the wind

turns ventriloquist

looking for a way out -

us: Annmarie Sauer

Rock Stairs

The book Felsenleiter by Fred Schywek is out! The book is wonderful and available in German. An English translation is being prepared. Follows Sing in German and a preview in English:

Sing

Die Seele geht

der Leib der bleibt

Entrückung kommt

sing sing, du King

von Blut von

äth’risch’ Glut

du King du sing

der Wind der weht

der Schnee der geht

du sing du King

auf Horizonten

mit neuem Winter

Mantel bau dein

Schiff die Jungs

vom Leib der bleibt

die Seele baut

ein Schiff für

dich und deine Frau

und dein Fahr Rad

frag mal die Jungs

ob du den Sattel

brauchst zum tauchen

gerade jetzt wo

die Post Karte

singt du King
*

Sing

The soul goes

the body that stays

detachment comes

sing sing, you King

of blood of

ethereal glow

you King you sing

the wind blows

away the snows

you sing you King

on horizons

with new winter

coat build your

boat the guys

of the body that stays

the soul builds

a boat for

you and your wife

and your bicycle

do ask the boys

whether you need the

saddle to dive

just now when

the post card

sings you King

 English: Annmarie Sauer

Flußschiffahrt

 Strasbourg: The Bookworm, Wednesday November 24, 2010, rue de Pâques.  You are invited!

 In the framework of Ruhr area 2010, European Capital of Culture an independent, original translation project was started by Fred Schywek under the name Flußschiffahrt. Fred Schywek, poet, publisher and translator in this project into German and Annmarie Sauer, poet and translator into Dutch and  English present a midway revue of poetry that will or has found it's place in Flußschiffahrt. They will read from two anthologies Hafenklänge Havenklanken Sounds of Harbour and  Die Liebe in Holland und Flandern De Liefde in Holland en Vlaanderen Love in Holland and Flanders. The Sounds of Harbour consists of poetry by six poets from 4 countries fascinated by ports and water, each dealing in a highly personal way with the subject. From light haerted to historic, from longing to loss, you'll find it in this elegant volume. One poem is written by all six poets under the name Charles Kléber. The book about love has one poem in three languages by nine poetesses from yes Holland and Flanders.

Two other books will also be presented: Felsenleiter by Fred Schywek, with a first performance of some of his poetry in English as a preview to the later publication of the bilingual Rock Stairs Felsenleiter. The poetry is personal and political, critical and tender. Schywek's style is powerful by its originality and will make you feel and think. He also questions language itself. Quite a ride!

Werkwoorden Werkworte Workbook is the last book by Annmarie Sauer, she made it as a farewell present to her colleagues. You find a lot places in Europe and Africa, personal musings inspired by a view or a word while working for the European Parliament, without ever writing about the Parliament itself. She wanted to show her colleagues their world through her eyes. Mainly written in Dutch and English but also some German.

Both poets are good performers and do think about how to present poetry in a multilingual setting. They are looking forward to this European safe haven in Strasbourg and hope to talk to you all after the reading.  

This is their last performance in 2010 Ruhr area Capital of European Culture year.

You can read about the three day Festival they organized at www.Dichtkunst.eu

and Salon12b.blogspot.com

Bienek's Blackbox One II

Just a sample of what one finds In Wilfried Bienek's Blackbox One, available online in a few days. This poem was read during 'Gegenlesung', the german night in den Hopsack in Antwerp. Enjoy:

IN DICH

Auch schon mal in Dich gegangen?

Verdammt große Räume.

Bescheiden möbliert.

Fenster mit Aussicht.

Andere verhangen.

Ein paar Zentimeter

Teppich über dem Boden.

Staubfarben, klar.

An- und ausgehende Lichter.

Zeitweise trüber Geruch.

übermalte Bilder von über-Malern.

Auch Fälschungen? Wer weiß!

Ein Fernseher mit

kleinem Schwarz-weiß Bild.

Mit Sendungen aus den 50ern.

Eine Standuhr,

die ihrem Namen Ehre macht.

Eine bunt lackierte Tür.

Dahinter ein Plumpsklo

mit Zeitungen als Papier.

Menschen?

Die lieb und werten am Eßtisch.

Vertieft ins Gespräch über

Thema Nummer eins:

über Dich, altes Haus!

IN JEZELF

Ben je al eens tot jezelf gekomen?

Verdomd grote kamers.

Bescheiden bemeubeld.

Venster met uitzicht.

Andere afgedekt.

Een paar centimeters

tapijt over de vloer.

Stofkleuren, natuurlijk.

Aan- en uitgaande lichten.

Bij tijden treurige geur.

Overschilderde beelden van overschilderaars.

Ook vervalsingen? Wie weet!

Een televisie met

klein zwart-wit beeld.

Met uitzendingen uit de jaren 50.

Een staande klok,

die haar naam eer aan doet.

Een bont gelakte deur.
Daarachter een plons wc

met kranten als papier.

Mensen?

Die lief en gekoesterd aan de eettafel.

Verdiept in het gesprek over

themanummer één:

over jou, oud huis!

Blackbox One

 Meet Wilfried Bienek reading his poetry from Hafenklänge Havenklanken Sounds of Harbour during the Festival on September 18.


*

But now there is more news. His next boek of poetry Blackbox One is availlable since today. The picture on the right is the cover picture from the sixth book published by Fred Schywek, world internet books, in the framework of Ruhr Area 2010 EuropeanCapital of Culture

The poetry in this volume exemplifies  his idiosyncratic and ironic worldview.

Der zerbrochene Krug

Ein Krug zerbrach.
De Mann: Das Kind wars.
Das Kind: Der Mann wars.

Falsch: Der Krug wars.