With Viva La Vis, a special poetry collection by Eppie Dam (1953 – 2026) is published posthumously, one of the most respected Frisian poets of his generation. The collection was developed in close collaboration between Eppie Dam, illustrator Yke Reeder and designer Monique Vogelsang.
About the author
Since his debut in 1978, Eppie Dam built an impressive literary oeuvre. He wrote children’s books, sports journalism, biographies and more than fifteen poetry collections. In addition, he created (spiritual) songs, cantatas, and also translations of singer-songwriters such as Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. The high quality of his work was recognised several times, among others with the Rely Jorritsmaprijs, the Simke Kloostermanprijs (2001) and the Gysbert Japicxprijs (2017), the highest literary honour of Friesland. Unfortunately, Eppie Dam did not live to see the publication of Viva La Vis himself. His life partner Lienke Boot says about this: ‘It is a wonderfully beautiful book and Eppie would have been very proud of it. Fortunately he managed to put the finishing touches on it himself right until the end.’
About the book
It is not easy to be a fish. You need eyes in front and back, but they are on the side. Fish eyes stay open all the time, even when you want to sleep. And can a fish laugh or cry? You can’t go anywhere with your tears because everything is water. You’re lucky if the water is clean, although then you stand out quite a bit. Predators lurk about, unless you are the predator yourself. Then you snap right away. Sometimes people snap and you yourself are the fish. How convenient!
In Viva La Vis, poet Eppie Dam, illustrator Yke Reeder and designer Monique Vogelsang view the fish world from all angles: with humour and with sadness. Because that is how it is with fish. And also with people, in all countries, with their big plans above water. Besides the Frisian names, the names in other languages also appear in this collection. No wonder: fish know no borders and swim everywhere, in groups or alone.
Eppie Dam’s book can be obtained here.
