About the name ‘Iwanjka’
A intriguing -possible- example of synchronity: my mother named me Iwanjka, when I was born in Malawi (Africa). She told me that the name probably derived from the books of Tolstoj, she was reading at the moment.
And the name also means ‘little’ Iwan in Russian. But than, spelled as ‘Iwanjka’ it is highly uncommon in Russian…
Some weeks later she received a letter from her sister, with a poem by the Dutch Poet Slauerhoff, called ‘De Schalmei’ (the Pipe). I never doubted that it was just strange coincidence. After my ‘Dark Age of the Soul’ in 2008 (I even tried to commit suicide), and starting to find my ‘groove’, I read an article in which the poem was explained: it was an ode to the artist. And ode to the expressionists. An ode to earth, colour and nature.
The opposite is the industrialisation and capitalism. Iconomy rules. No more time for expression. Every action is measured in money. Does an hour spent not deliver profit (money?), than it is wasted. Where is the time, we just can sit at a stone and play guitar in the sun. Just because we feel it is senseful. And we enjoy it…?
The poem:
| Nederlands | English |
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Zeven zonen had moeder: Allen heetten Peter, Behalve Wanjka die Iwan heette.
Allen konden werken: Eén was geitenhoeder, Eén vlocht sandalen, Eén zelfs bouwde kerken;
Maar Iwan die Wanjka heette Wilde niet werken.
Op een steen in de zon gezeten Bespeelde hij zijn schalmei.
“O, mijn lieve, Mijn lustige, Laat mij spelen, In de schaduw van mijn Korte rustige vallei Laat andren werken, Sandalen maken of kerken Wanjka heeft genoeg aan zijn schalmei.” |
Seven sons, mother had: All were named Peter, Except for Wanjka, also named Iwan. All could work, One was shepherd, One made sandals, One even built churches;
But Iwan who was named Wanjka Didn’t want to work. Sitting at a Stone in Sun He played his pipe. “O, my lovely, My lusty, Let me play, In the shade of my Closed quite valley, Let others work, Make sandals or churches, Wanjka is satisfied with his pipe. |
Another interesting thing; my mother gave me -what I started to name- a ‘ guname’, a global unique name. withing the Iciety, the inernet society, this is extremely handy. My name is search token for all my expressions on the web. And I am not afraid of the privacy ghost, everybody may everywhere see what I do and am. Express your Self…
