I would really like to tell you
that the summer doesn’t exist but
is endless and that flowers never cry
But how to explain that in
poetry, how do I capture everything
Because I can write about
how everything feels lighter
and how the air tastes like the
stalk of grass you chewed on as a
kid lost in time and daydreaming
About only the sun, the grass, You
About the first time that you
ran outside without a raincoat
And of course ice cream cones
with all those sprinkles
But I just want to know if you
also sometimes sobbed softly on the shoreline
and if you love pear-flavored popsicles, I…
Oh, sorry. I’m already out of lines.
Dutch poem: Marrit Jellema
Marrit Jellema (Leeuwarden, 1993) is a Spoken Word artist, poet and writer. Next to that, Marrit is both the founder and organizer of Fryslân’s Spoken Word platform, Hoge Woorden, and Leeuwarden’s city Poet Laureate. Marrit has released two albums to date, and she won the 2019 Spoken Word prize (category Lyrics). She was also a finalist in September 2021’s Dutch Poetry Slam Championship. She puts together (community-)connecting projects, gives workshops, writes on commission and performs regularly.
Frisian translation: Arjan Hut
Arjan Hut (Drachten, 1976) grew up in Surhuisterveen and published his first book of poems, ‘Nachtswimmers’ (Nightswimmers), in 2004. He was poet laureate of Leeuwarden from 2005-2006, World Poet for the municipality of Achtkarspelen in 2019-2020 and is currently Poet of Fryslân. Hut is editor of the magazine Moanne and teaches poetry at the Writers School. His sixth and most recent book of poems was published in 2023 with the title ‘Ien tel de ierde stil’ (People still count the earth).
English translation: Preston Losack
Preston Losack (Dallas) is a writer, poet and editor who enjoys exploring human emotions and experiences. He has published various poems, has his own podcast, is often on stage and participates in the #NieuweStukken development process 23-24 of the Dutch Performing Arts Fund Fund through Explore the North.
Illustrator: Michiel Kloppenburg
Michiel Kloppenburg (1984) is a freelance illustrator and animator living in Jelsum. His style can best be described as colourful, playful and minimalist, and he particularly likes working on projects that are linked to sustainability and nature. He is joint founder of Motionatales, an animation studio that makes complex information understandable through animation and motion design. He is also joint founder of Level Up Coworking, a co-working space in Leeuwarden for creative freelancers.