Poetry For Now

Truthful, humorous and insightful poetry to uplift and brighten your day. Hosted and written by Martin Strasmore. The resounding gongs, played by Kassandra Strasmore, offer an experience of peace and tranquility. Good poetry can open up the mind and heart to new ways of seeing the world, accepting difficulties and embracing opportunities for transformation. Each episode is intended to support and uplift the world and to renew our respect for each other and nature.

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Poetry For Now

A JOURNEY'S END

January 16, 2022 • Martin Strasmore • Season 2 • Episode 15

Season 2 Episode 15 - A JOURNEY’S END

Life has many journeys. This is a short episode to complete our 2021 European trip which ended in Holland. (please see photos on the website)

Over 50 years ago I was in Amsterdam.

Have I changed more than the city?

Now more multicultural than ever.

More extraordinary museums celebrating its artists.

More culinary delights and friendly people.

Sounds you hear: rain, working windmill, the bells of Zuiderkerk

Support the show

Life has many journeys. This is a short episode to complete our 2021 European trip which ended in Holland. (please see photos on the website)

Over 50 years ago I was in Amsterdam.

Have I changed more than the city?

Now more multicultural than ever.

More extraordinary museums celebrating its artists.

More culinary delights and friendly people.

Sounds you hear: rain, working windmill, the bells of Zuiderkerk

KINDERDIJK

Arriving in the Nederlands

The land of dykes and windmills

buckets of sky water welcome us

Trudging through the downpour

Umbrellas turning inside out

the perfect time to step inside

a four hundred year old windmill.

The sails turn wooden gears

lubricated by bees wax and pig fat

pumping water out of the land

where houses sit protected by dykes

where cows graze soon to milked

where we can taste the creamy gouda,

Where bicycles rule

and tulips wait to pop up again.

AMSTERDAM

Water water everywhere

lots of beer to drink

canals here, canals there

bridges and bicycles everywhere

Cannabis chocolate and chewing gum

is that why no one looks glum?

Even though its cool and rainy

Van Gogh makes things sunny

with brilliance and innovation

pursuing his dream and vision

seeing the world in a new way

Presenting its full glory.

Rembrandt saw peoples’ souls

respecting all for whom they were

masterfully using light and shade

compositions that draw us in,

into their worlds centuries ago.

Another era reveals itself

the power of spirit undiminished

Anne Frank writes to us

showing how to keep hope alive

no matter what evil appears.

Walking along the canals

the colorful display

purple aubergine

prickly artichoke

piles of garlic cloves

draw us into the corner shop

and a moroccan lunch.

As we enter the high end shopping

the street of the museum quarter

Gucci, Mont Blanc, Ferrigamo

Hermes, Chopard, Dior

another corner restaurant

An ecstatic food experience

Indonesian Tali, soft to crunchy

tangy, sweet, sour, aromatic.

Riding the canals, see history unfold

and dull skies cannot hide

creative colorful installations

Bicycles dressed up to impress

trees and windows with moose and bears

Flower shop barges with photo murals

cats stare from their shelter barge

In the square

the dancers mural overlooks

the garden of Bronze lizards

With Yoda riding a lizard

then through trams and subways

guided into Zuiderkerk

Greth de Bruin surprises us

our final Amsterdam supper

full of love and delight

prepared by Adrei.

In this old church

surrounded by old friends

not seen for decades

the years have disappeared

our hearts are still connected.

A beautiful ending

to our European adventure.