Ilse

“At least let me now deceive myself with illusions
so as not to feel my empty life.

And yet I came so close so many times.
And yet how paralyzed I was, how cowardly;
why did I keep my lips sealed
while my empty life wept inside me,
my desires wore robes of mourning?

To have been so close so many times
to those sensual eyes, those lips,
to that body I dreamed of, loved.
To have been so close so many times.

September 1903”
― Constantinos P. Cavafis

“Jezelf verliezen in een boek is de beste manier om je terug te vinden in de wereld. Leestijd is nooit verloren tijd. Na het lezen sta je vaak dichter bij jezelf en ook dichter bij de buitenwereld. Dat is een afdaling en een stilte die eigenlijk je gesprek met de wereld vergroot en versterkt.”
― David Van Reybrouck

“I hide your portrait
in a closet with no holes
your dress
in the dresser
I place the mirror on the bracket
upside down

remains of your hair
are dancing on the windowsill
in direction of the wind

in my room
there is always
a vacant chair”
― Ali Abdollahi

“I am glad you have an hour for books, those enthralling friends, the immortalities...”
― Emily Dickinson, Emily Dickinson: Letters