Poetry about Winter
We would like to invite you to participate in a special afternoon of poetry, fascinating conversations and musical readings by various poets and connoisseurs. The Dichterstafel organizes these afternoons four times a year in Academiehuis Grote Kerk, in order to strengthen the relationship between poetry and the city of Zwolle.
Whether you are a poetry lover or just curious about the art form; everyone is welcome. Various poets, both from the city and (inter)national, will be invited to the table in person or through a connoisseur for an inspiring conversation. There will also be room for music. Musicians will sing the poems, set to music by local composers. Afterwards, it is possible to purchase a CD or book of poems by the invited poets and musicians.
We would like to invite you to participate in a special afternoon of poetry, fascinating conversations and musical readings by various poets and connoisseurs. The Dichterstafel organizes these afternoons four times a year in Academiehuis Grote Kerk, in order to strengthen the relationship between poetry and the city of Zwolle.
Whether you are a poetry lover or just curious about the art form; everyone is welcome. Various poets, both from the city and (inter)national, will be invited to the table in person or through a connoisseur for an inspiring conversation. There will also be room for music. Musicians will sing the poems, set to music by local composers. Afterwards, it is possible to purchase a CD or book of poems by the invited poets and musicians.
Open Stage
Each Poetry Table has an Open Stage. With this first time, the theme is Winter. Poets and/or visual artists are given space to bring their elaboration of the theme to the limelight. We have space within the program for six readings on the Open Podium.
Would you like to nominate something? Sign up in advance by sending an email to g.reinink@live.nl.
Program
1. Henny Vrienten as a poet
If you win, you have friends
rows thick, real friends
if you win, never lonely
as long as you win
Henny Vrienten (1948-2022) was a singer, poet and composer, part of the Dutch pop group "Doe Maar" and also wrote songs for children's programs such as Klokhuis and Sesame Street. He sang two songs together with Herman Brood.
Cornelis Kapitein will perform some of Vrienten's songs with Lars Welten. In between a conversation by Liselotte Bredie with Cornelis Kapitein about Henny Vrienten and his poetry
2. War Poetry
Come tonight with stories
how the war is gone,
and repeat them a hundred times:
all times I will weep.
Leo Vroman
As we celebrate our Eighty Years of Liberation in 2025, this time we also pay attention to war poetry. An untold amount of war poetry exists, most recently from Ukraine and Gaza. We choose the Jewish-Romanian poet Paul Celan (1920-1970), because he was able to express so poignantly the side of the victims, especially in his famous 1945 poem Todesfuge, which he wrote for his parents murdered by the Nazis.
After a musical intro by flutist Mirjam Slats, - the music is by Eugène van Boheemen from Zwolle - Lieve Gulikers recites the poem in the translation by Jan Naaijkens. Liselotte Bredie then enters into a conversation with Lieve Gulikers about Paul Celan's poem, the meaning of commemoration and the role poems play in it.
Break
3. Open Stage
With the theme of Winter.
4. Word
The newly elected new city poet will join the Poet's Table for the first time, unfold their own plans and conclude the meeting with a contribution.
5. Afterthought
In day cafe the South Choir chat and browse the offerings on the Vendor's Table. The offerings grow with each new meeting.
The program ended at 4:30 p.m.
Please note that this time the Poetry Table is in the consistory. This room is only accessible by stairs and unfortunately not wheelchair accessible.