Dutch poet Leo Vroman dies

This is a video of a poem by Leo Vroman.

Translated from NOS TV in the Netherlands:

Saturday 22 Feb 2014, 17:23

In his hometown Fort Worth (Texas) poet and biologist Leo Vroman has died at the age of 98 years. He was one of the greatest Dutch poets. In 1964 he received the P. C. Hooft Prize.

Vroman published ever since 1946 more than 50 books of poetry. In 2013 his book “Die vleugels (Those wings)’ still appeared, and another one will still be published. Many people know Vroman’s poem “Vrede (Peace)”, which begins with the words “Kom vanavond met verhalen (Come tonight with stories).”

As a researcher of blood Vroman became famous for the Vroman effect named after him, which refers to phenomena of coagulation. He lived in the United States since 1947.

Though he lived in the USA, almost all Vroman’s poems are in Dutch. He publisheed only two poetry books in English.

The Poetry International site writes on Vroman here.

17 thoughts on “Dutch poet Leo Vroman dies”

Reblogged this on Marcus' s Space and commented:
A great Dutch poet has left this earth but I do hope his many poems shall move many for years to come.

Een groot Nederlandstalig dichter heeft deze aarde verlaten. Zijn ziel zal nu verder moeten voortleven in de herinnering van zijn woorden. Dat deze woorden nog vele jaren velen in vervoering mogen brengen.

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petrel41 on February 22, 2014 at 6:30 pm said:

Thanks for your comment, Marcus!

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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Honoring a great poet! A Dutch one, at that!!!

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petrel41 on February 23, 2014 at 12:44 pm said:

Thank you for reblogging, dear Horty!

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- Dr. Rex on February 23, 2014 at 2:22 pm said:
  
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The start of the poem is incorrectly quoted and quite beautiful (with a poor attempt to translate)

Vrede Peace

Komt een duif van honderd pond, A dove of 100 pounds comes flying
een olijfboom in zijn klauwen, An olive tree in his claws
bij mijn oren met zijn mond At my ears with his mouth
vol van koren zoete vrouwen, telling of lovely sweet women
vol van kirrende verhalen telling of hilarious stories
hoe de oorlog is verdwenen how war is over
en herhaalt ze honderd malen: and repeats theses a hundred times
alle malen zal ik wenen. every time I will cry

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