Mooi zijn alleen de wolken – Gedichten uit Kamp Ravensbrück

In this year of commemorating eighty years of liberation, Poetry International Festival dedicates a special program to the poems written by female Polish prisoners in the Ravensbrück concentration camp during the war. In the inhumane conditions they endured, these poems offered a glimpse of humanity. 

The Polish resistance fighter Irena Pannenkowa, who was imprisoned in the camp in 1942 and survived, compiled many of the poems into an anthology after the war. This program presents a selection from that anthology, performed in both the original Polish and in Dutch translation by poet and translator Jo Govaerts (NLD). Govaerts will also speak about her experiences translating these often deeply moving works. 

Pianist Anna Ciborowska (POL-BEL) will perform pieces inspired by the poems, and poetry critic Janita Monna (NLD) will open the afternoon with a lecture on the historical and literary context of these extraordinary poetic testimonies.

Janita Monna

Janita Monna (born 1971) is a journalist, critic, and teacher who writes about poetry for the Dutch daily Trouw. She studied Dutch language and literature in Amsterdam and spent several years living on Bonaire, where she worked as a correspondent for outlets such as Caribisch Netwerk. Monna was closely involved with the Poetry International Festival for many years as a freelance editor and program curator, and helped launch the annual Dutch Poetry Day (Gedichtendag). She has also served as editor for literary magazines including Awater and Maatstaf, and co-edited the Van Oorschot Poetry Calendar 2016 together with Menno Hartman. 

Jo Govaerts 

Jo Govaerts (born in Leuven, 1972) is a poet, translator, and Slavicist. She made her literary debut at a young age with the poetry collection Hanne Ton (1987), which was nominated for the Cees Buddingh’ Prize. Her work is known for its clarity and introspective tone. In 2021, she published Ik dans me weer bijeen, a collection of both previously published and new poems. 

Govaerts studied Slavic languages and literature at KU Leuven and spent time in Kraków and Warsaw during her studies. She has translated several Polish poets, including Wisława Szymborska and Anna Świrszczyńska. Together with Karol Lesman, she co-translated Świrszczyńska’s poetry into Dutch, highlighting themes of womanhood and war. Her translations are praised for their sensitivity and precision. 

In addition to her literary work, Govaerts has written travel essays and a cultural guide to Kraków, for which she received a distinction from the Polish government. She lives and works in Brussels and remains active in the literary and cultural scene. 

Anna Ciborowska

Anna Ciborowska is a Polish-Belgian pianist known for her dedication to rediscovering overlooked repertoire, with a special focus on works by women composers. She studied at the Music Academy in Warsaw and continued her education at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Her album Piano Works, featuring music by 19th-century composer Maria Szymanowska, was the first CD entirely devoted to Szymanowska’s piano music. 

Ciborowska collaborated closely with composer Gaston Compère, who dedicated several works to her, including the suite Polders. As a soloist, she has performed with ensembles such as the Amadeus Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra and the Ricercare Chamber Orchestra. She also performs internationally as part of a duo with saxophonist Cezariusz Gadzina. She lives in Brussels and is active in projects promoting women composers.