My knowledge of The Netherlands
Came from a beloved children's book.
I found the tale quite so charming
I wanted to take a close look
At a land that could spawn a child
As brave and as strong as was he.
Hans with his finger in the dike
Was a folklore hero to me
And when he won his silver skates,
I was filled with an honest pride.
My book fell apart and my dream
Of sailing away on the tide.
At home in The United States.
We raise tulips on our estates.
4/26/14
Categories:
the netherlands, adventure,
Form: Sonnet
Oh lovely Netherlands, you are now my second home.
You leave me thrilled and enchanted where ever I roam.
I smiled when floating down streets made from the sea,
Touring on charming glass covered canal boats with glee.
There’s beauty in the coolness of a windswept day,
As I rode the wind on my bicycle and joyously flew away.
Then I set out to visit famous paintings I was shown.
Each lovely museum has a quaint charm all its own.
One famous museum displayed art of Vincent van Gogh.
It has a cool theatre inside, most tourists don’t know.
I just had to visit Den Haag’s St. Mauritius to view
Vermeer’s “Girl with a pearl earring” and other art too.
I toured through Madame Tussaud’s Wax museum happily.
Johnny Depp and George Clooney were there waiting for me!
Oh lovely gardens of Keukenhof, my time’s worth BEST spent.
I’ll never forget your bright tulip hues with their heavenly scent.
Hartelijk bedankt oh lovely Netherlands, land of the free.
Alstublieft, alstublieft I beseech you, don’t forget me.
April 22, 2014
*Hartelijk bedankt - heartfelt thanks
*Alstublieft – please
Categories:
the netherlands, adventure, places, travel,
Form: Couplet
The iridescent raven perched upon pilings
By just one lake in Friesland's beautiful wetland outings
His golden beak and orange legs with claws set off
Against black feathers that glisten and are a rain runoff
Carefully he watches the Edelhert fawn play
At the edge of the lake, close to woods, where he lives all day
He had seen the das at dusk as he watched them all
His duty as the lookout to warn them against harm's fall
Against the vas that sly thief, who comes in the night
When all sleep, even for the watchman death could be his plight
Some Of The Wildlife In The Netherlands
Edelhert:Red Deer
Das:Badger
Vas:Fox
Sponsor: Elly Wouterse
Contest: Your Ode To "My"Netherlands And/Or "My Friesland"
Written: April 22, 2014
Categories:
the netherlands, nature,
Form: Couplet
a moonlit stroll - -
ladies in underwear
wave from windows
tea in a café - -
the smell of coffee and
marijuana
tourists yawn - -
customs men search a coach
from Amsterdam
written 21st April for Elly’s contest
wish I'd been permitted to write about the beautiful tulips, windmills and cheese, LOL
Categories:
the netherlands, holiday,
Form: Haiku
Hook of Holland arrive by the ferry
Meeting our good friends Ans and Jerry
The pancake house is where we love to eat
Being our with our Dutch friends – what a treat
Zwarte Piet will be visiting soon
Children crowded into the living room
Waiting for the black hand around the door
Sweets are freely scattered on to the floor
Visiting the haunting Anne Frank museum
Makes me think of the phrase carpe diem
Walking along the stunning cobbled street
Our trip to Amsterdam is now complete
I would love to return again one day
Meet Elly Wouterse on lands far away
Submitted to Elly Wouterse’s Contest
My Ode To The Netherlands
~ Awarded 2nd place ~
15th April 2014
The poem is written from very vivid childhood memories- its been a trip down memory lane - it is also my first attempt at a sonnet
Categories:
the netherlands, culture, travel,
Form: Sonnet
Forefathers were Dutch
Came through in the clutch
Never needed no crutch
Thank you very much
Ain’t never been there
(No money to spare)
Hope Elly will share
expensive plane fare
If I win her contest
I shall not protest
Quite sure she’ll detest
and think I’m a pest…
This is really a monorhyme but I cheated and made it a couplet, so what?
Categories:
the netherlands, silly,
Form: Couplet
Ode to the Netherlands
Oh, Netherlands, I remember you well
the beautiful cities I came to know
Brukelen, Haarlem, Utrecht and Zeist
as a younger man in search of lore
the blue canals along the street
the Amsterdam bistros where people meet
my nederlandse friends and Indonische love
a culture blended with the best of beers
Is it the same as I recall
when Queen Juliana ruled with great aplomb
in the fifty six years I have been there since
bloom on forever , Oh, Kuekenhof
and flow on, Oh, Zuiderzee
My heart will always be with thee
Contest
Categories:
the netherlands, memory,
Form: Ode
Needlessly dying
Time & time again
Drifting in the clouds
Soaring through the static air
Until finally I descend
And fall victim to the snare
Set by the Hunter
Of the Netherlands
The Hunter is there
Lurking in the shadows
I never feel safe
I never feel alone
For he is always watching me
Hunting me
Within my dreams.
Categories:
the netherlands, allegory
Form: I do not know?