Hebban olla vogala
Weekly fresh poetry, issue #101
The birds have
started nesting, as we
have been doing in many places.
And with each new day, I
love you more.
What could very well be the oldest known written phrase in Dutch was found in a manuscript in the monastery of Rochester in Kent. It is a pen test fragment. Monks copying texts would write with a quill, that needed sharpening now and then. To test the newly sharpened quill, they would write something. In this case, the monk in question penned what is believed to be a part of an Old Flemish love song. It is about birds having begun their nests, apart from you and me. It’s a romantic idea. One I do like and could have been accurate for how I felt before I met the love of my life. Since then, we have built a beautiful nest with which we have travelled to many places. A nomadic nest. Our nest. I love it, and the one I built it with. I hope you find the same love.
What old phrase of your language has a positive vibe for you?
Something to listen to
Dutch youth program Klokhuis (Apple Core) did an episode on that early Dutch written phrase “Hebban olla vogala”. They imagined how a modern version of that centuries-old love song. This is the result (in Dutch, obviously):
This is something to listen to, and watch. A beautiful short version of a documentary, with amazing poetry by Sherman Alexie. Watch and listen to United by Water:
If you want to learn about poetry, and specifically the American sonnet, listen to the latest episode of the #trpplffct poetry podcast with James Maynard:
And as we have started a new month, we also have a new playlist. Press shuffle before you press play and lose yourself in the music:
If you like this inbox poetry magazine, support it with cups of coffee:
Poetry elsewhere
Dipping a finger into tea to make it sweeter. This and more images of true love in a beautiful poem set in a park in Pakistan. Enjoy reading Last Goodbye in Bahalwapur by Javeria Hasnain.
Poetry sometimes is just a (small) collection of words that make you feel or think or stop and wonder for a while. This short poem, on Instagram, is such an example. It makes me feel love. The one for the one I want to build our nest with and wake up next to every day. Read this untitled poem by Frank Z. Llobera.
More poetry on Instagram: David Jones creates beautiful short poems. Some are very gripping, some are overflowing with love. Like this one, that reminds me of how I feel about the love of my life. Read this untitled poem by David Jones. David also creates NFTs, that you can find via the links in his linktr.ee.