Everything that ever lived

Is sooner or later erased by time.

What remains

Is the beauty on earth!

Germain Droogenbroodt, a world famous poet from Belgium, shares his poetry

Germain Droogenbroodt was born 11 September 1944 in Rollegem, the Flemish part of Belgium. In 1987 he moved to the Mediterranean artist village of Altea and integrated in Spanish literary life. He is an internationally appreciated poet, who wrote short stories and literary reviews, but mainly poetry, and so far 17 poetry books, have been published in 30 countries. He is also translator, publisher, and promoter of modern international poetry. He speaks six languages. As founder and editor of the Belgian publishing house POINT (Poetry International) he published more than eighty collections of mainly modern, international poetry and organized and co-organized several international poetry festivals in Spain. He is co-founder and advisor of JUNPA (Japan Universal Poets Association), general counsel of the Chinese cultural Association Huifeng, International Shanghai and founding president of the Spanish cultural foundation ITHACA. He also collaborates with several international poetry associations. During his sojourn at the Palace-Fortress “Neemrana” in Rajasthan, 1998, he completed the poetry cycle “The Road”, published in China as TAO, a poetic bridge between the East and the West, inspiring the Flemish artist Frans Minnaert and the Indian painter Satish Gupta, who enriched “The Road” with their drawings. This philosophical, mystical poetry has been published in 25 countries. Several famous artists made paintings and sculptures inspired by his poetry. Germain Droogenbroodt is yearly invited to give recitals and conferences at universities and at the most prestigious poetry festivals around the world. He received many of international poetry awards and was recommended for the Nobel Prize of Literature 2017.

WHAT WILL REMAIN

Everything that ever lived

Is sooner or later erased by time.

What remains

Is the beauty on earth!

Which man created before:

Beautiful constructions, sculptures,

Words and music.

But what will remain of us

– For those who come after us –

As a trace?

What else

But tasteless constructions,

Pollution of water and air,

The greed of the now.

***

HOMELESS

All night long

It has rained continuously

And it just won’t stop.

Yesterday was still sunny and warm

And the birds whistled happily, not knowing

That a thunderstorm was forecasted.

I wonder

Where they now are staying

And how they survive

Like those emigrants

Who fled their country!

***

INHUMAN

Afghanistan, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Syria, Africa…

It rains

It rains on earth

It rains tears of sadness

For so much brutal violence

For so much senseless suffering

For so much inhumanity

Committed by man.

***

A VICTIM

Not yet closed

But wide-eyed

And full of horror

The eyes

Pursed the lips

Because time was too short

For a farewell greeting

For a last prayer.

(POEMS FROM “THE ROAD OF BEING”)

_____________________

Published under International Cooperation with "Sindh Courier"