The Merry Time

Ivo van Strijtem

Is this a happy time? Well, for those who read the poetry of Ivo van Strijtem, because they end up in a universe in which innocence still has a chance. The joyful time is the name of his latest collection, in which a poetic environment full of love and sex is created – which is not yet free of sadness and death. They are part of life, as self-evident as Van Strijtem's poetry, which is accessible thanks to a clear language in which wonder is casually designed. It may happen that the reader does not immediately notice how much Van Strijtem has to say; you are suddenly surprised by the smallest observations: 'This morning the sun was shining and yet I was sad'. That is recognizable and understandable and not nearly as easy as it sounds. Just like The Happy Time.