Collected Poetry 1938-1988 - Verzamelde Gedichten 1938-1988
An extensive collection of his best poetry selected by Aafjes himself. An example of his poetry in a translation of Machteld Hauer, which is included in her book Dance of Consciousness
IN DEN BEGINNE / IN THE BEGINNING
He walked in the yet nameless morning,
With fresh long legs and longish arms;
His chest was young and fresh with ardour;
His eyes were open upon the things
His lips were on the very verge of naming,
Until the names rose from his lips,
As clear water, rising from the depth.
He'd scarcely given a name to anything yet
He let creation permeate his eyes
And dive into the ocean of his soul
As nude swimmers, agile, slender, and in multitudes,
Born from water in water
As water, entirely soulful water creatures,
Swarming and moist with originality,
Revolving within water's clarity,
Sowing fingers and toes throughout the depths,
Air bubbles of questions upward sending
And almost bursting under the mirror
Of the inexpressible, then suddenly,
Bubbling, climbing, becoming murmuring sound,
Cleaving its way to the palate,
And shivering, shouting a cry, a name.
And Adam cried a sound, a word, a name.
And Adam rang from naked sole to crown
Gave birth to words, sparkling nude of sense,
Naked as he was himself in the beginning.
Author
Bertus Aafjes (1914 - 1993) started a study to become a priest, but started getting doubts about his priesthood destination and embarked on a journey to Rome on foot. He studied archeology in Rome and Louvain and began writing poetry. He lived the Mediterranean life, roamed through Italy, Greece and Egypt and wrote many stories about his encounters. Aafjes is also known for his Dutch translation of Homer's Odyssey. Travelogues gained a place in Dutch literature thanks to his work. He also explored the United States and Japan, the latter resulting in his Judge Ooka mystery stories.