An Intractable Cathedral of Language. The Poetry of Kees Ouwens
(Kees van Domselaar) The Low Countries - 2005, № 13, pp. 274-276
The world of his youth underlies the whole of Kees Ouwens' writing. This is certainly true of his poetry, but applies equally to a number of his novels. The recently deceased Ouwens has the reputation of being mainly a poets' poet. His work also suggests an intractable cathedral of language, constantly under construction, composed in countless different styles to the design of a monomaniac architect, cutting things down to the poetic bone, in search of a sacred space to celebrate the rites of his poetry. An oeuvre like a temple, referring only to itself, without a god or a doorway admitting a wider public.
Continue reading?
The article you want to access is behind a paywall. You can purchase this article or subscribe to access all the low countries articles.
Post comment
Sign in