B. Zwaal (Netherlands, 1944) was the director of the Dutch movement theatre group BEWTH for many years. In 1984, he made his debut with fiere miniature (proud miniature). The title signals a collection of powerfully compressed poems, and his subsequent collections display a similar structure, although the short, taut opening poems are often followed by longer, baroque ones. Through play of sound and image the important linking themes of his work emerge – nature and eroticism. Zwaal attempts to bring about a synthesis between a calm lyricism and verbal exuberance. The latter is reflected in his frequent use of neologisms, archaic language and vernacular.

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