Frank Koenegracht
(Rotterdam, 1945) is a psychiatrist in Leiden. In 1970, acting on advice from Lucebert, he sent several poems to the publishing house De Bezige Bij. One year later he made his debut with the collection of poems Een gekke tweepersoonswesp (A crazy twin wasp). A few years later, in 1976, his second collection, entitled Camping De Vrijheid (Camping Freedom) was published. In 2003 appeared Vroege sneeuw (Early snow), a collection which includes a selection from his earlier works. Koenegracht was awarded twice for his complete oevre: in 1990 he received the Anna Blaman Prize, and in 2001 the Frans Erens Prize. In his poetry he resists again and again the established order. Since his debut he continues to show his disgust of the middle classes. Although a little bizarre, his poems remain yet familiar, maybe because delusion and reality often cross one another. The motto of his recent collection of poems is " Frank Koenegracht's world is not a happy one, however there is a lot to laugh about".
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Archive available for: Frank Koenegracht
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Out of the bottomless foundations of this charnel kingdom
"Uit de bodemloze fundamenten van dit knekelrijk
rijst een nieuwe schijnwereld,
ontplooit zich leven à la opblaasboot."(out of the bottomless/ foundations of this/charnel kingdom/rises a new fake world/life unfolds/like a rubber dinghy). Thus according to Hans Verhagen in his collection of poems Eeuwige Vlam (Eternal flame). Hans Verhagen and the poets Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer and Frank Koenegracht will read from their recent work. Later this evening, this time with Gerrit Komrij, they will return with a satirical poem, written as an assignment for Winternachten. Dutch spoken.
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Long live satirical poetry
Een Antwerpse Mis-pop
Een Swijn van den Bisschop
Derft hier komen raesen
En gnurcken, en knorren
En schelden, en morren
En kijven, en kauten
Met Rijmen vol fautenThis is how the poet W.G. Foquenbroch once wrote about an Antwerp bishop. The satirical poem has become less popular over the years. However, this is unfortunate, because the Dutch character lends itself very much to satire. Five poets each wrote a satirical poem on the Dutch character: Maria Barnas, Frank Koenegracht, Gerrit Komrij, Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer and Hans Verhagen. They breath new life into this literary tradition. Chaired by Joyce Roodnat. Dutch spoken.
