ELSA MUNDET, A LITTLE GIRL NEXTDOOR

When we see your lovely face
and you say so soft: 'Bye bye'
you become so full of grace
that we always wonder why.

Full of joy and friendly laughter
often asking why and how:
Oh, it's Blacky that you're after
grey and white, our fine wow wow.

When you are in play and walk
smiling is your finest talk
with your friends or mum and daddy.

If you loudly raise your voice
we can only make one choice:
you're a wonder, not a baddy.
........................................................
Jan Arends, Torroella de Montgrí. Text and photo
of Elsa Mundet. From 'Poetic lines', 2009

BREGJE

Written on the 'La Gola' beach


Your name, lovely daughter
is brilliantly shining;
two syllables only:
please never feel lonely.



I could write much more
in lines filled with sorrow
but that's for tomorrow's
or yesterday's shore.



I just want to tell you
in soft simple words
that you are my Bregje:
a word sometimes hurts.

.........................................
Jan Arends, Torroella de Montgrí
'Poetic lines' 2008. Sunrise in Isla
Cristina,Spain. December 2008

LOVE AND HATE

For my daughter Manine*

Love has so many faces, Manine,

one every moment, black, brown or green.

Open your eyes and you'll see very clearly

how all those faces do love you so dearly.

Hate has no face, is the end of a world

doesn't know anything, is filled with dirt,

kills all your feelings, makes you feel sad

gives you a pain in your stomach and head.

Love is a giving thing, happens and is

sometimes a smile and often a kiss.

Loving is friendly and makes you feel good

keeps you in health and in a good mood.

Hate is a black hole of nothing but blindness

holding you down in your own tears and dryness.

Love is a feeling of happily giving.

Love makes you really feel: 'Yes, I'm living' !

..........................................................................

*The Dutch name 'Manine' is pronounced 'Maneen'

Jan Arends, 'Catalan poetry, 1987. The photos

show Manine and my granddaughter Dana.

BETWEEN

Love disappeared,

hate became hurry.

I looked around:

too much to worry.

Green were the fields

and shining the sun.

Hate disappeared

when love had begun.

....................................

Jan Arends, Text and photo

'Poetic lines', 2009

ETERNAL TIME

The Past was to be
and Present is being

But future will be
just starting from Now

Going on, on and on
in Eternity...wow!
..................................
Jan Arends, Torroella de Montgrí,
Text and photo. 'Poetic lines'2009

CRUISE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

During this cruise the
sun kept on shining.
This jumping light
caused lovely dining.

We drank water and wine
and met people so fine.
The days on this line
made us feel divine.

So joyful and happy
on blue Planet Earth:
this big rolling stone
goes on giving birth.
...............................................................................
Jan Arends, Torroella de Montgrí,
Text and photo.'Poetic lines' 2009

COLOURS IN SPRING

White blossom that changes from red into pink
in springtime with sunshine when people just drink
and play in this colourful landscape of beauty
where nature is doing is heavenly duty.

Green apple-trees growing in fields near the beaches
tell us with their colours how far springtime reaches.
And in all this music of life's jolly swinging
I hear my dear Carmen so caring and singing.

Look, Blacky our grey dog is now full of white
he spent in the cushions a quite happy night
and when we got up he looked very bright.

He plays and he jumps full of joy and of life,
his teeth are as big and as sharp as a knife
but he is the best friend of me and my wife.
.......................................................................................
Jan Arends, Torroella de Montgrí,
Text and photo. 'Poetic lines', 2009