Pieter Boskma
(Leeuwarden, NL, 1956) studied several languages, East Asian art history, and anthropology from 1977 to 1984. In 1984 he self-published his debut poetry collection Virus, virus, and in the late eighties he joined Maximalen, a group of poets who called for more action in poetry. Since then he has written a dozen further collections as well as stories and novellas. One of his most impressive titles is De aardse komedie (The Earthly Comedy), an enormous "novel poem" that rivals the great poetry of the past. After the death of his wife he wrote the memorable grieving volume Doodsbloei (Deathbloom), followed by the extatic song of renewal Mensenhand (Human Hand) that brings to life his new wife, Hera. The 2015 collection Zelf (Self) articulates how Boskma's grief for his wife penetrates to the core of his poetic being; it was nominated for the VSB Poetry Prize. Boskma's poems have been translated and published in China, the Czech Republic, France, and the United States. In 2012, he was one of the poets who participated in "The New York to Pittsburgh and Back Dutch Poetry Tour."
Past events
Hello, Poetry and Music
Let yourself be seduced by poetry from home and abroad. Listen to the recitals of the poets, amongst whom three nominees of the VSB Poetry Prize. As a special commission by the festival, Dick van der Harst sets one of Adonis' poems to music.
