Leef! (Live!) Tombstone text of Ramses Shaffy, Zorgvlied Cemetery Amsterdam | Photo wilson tichelaar ©
Tomorrow 10 years ago the great Dutch singer/poet/artist Ramses Shaffy died. Today my favorite radioshow Taalstraat (Language Street – hosted by brilliant wordsmith Frits Spits) is honoring Shaffy’s rich repertoire and valuable contribution to the Dutch language.
Sing
Fight
Cry
Pray
Laugh
Work
and Admire
are the lyrics of one of his most memorable songs. (Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder, in Dutch)
I once stumbled upon his grave at Zorgvlied Cemetery in Amsterdam, and couldn’t resist taking the picture above.
The epicurean’s tombstone text Leef! (Live!) is in fact dismissing the visitor, to go, walk on and live life (to the fullest).
Read the curious story on Shaffy’s Tree here.
