Richard hat viel mehr Lebenserfahrung als ich. Er kommt aus Kalifornien und hat als Kinderdarsteller in Hollywood gearbeitet. Er hat die 60er-Jahre in Kalifornien erlebt. Als er vor einigen Jahren nach Kiel kam, hat er große Teile seines Werkes zurückgelassen, vor allem seine Bilder. Er hat sich vom Materialismus sehr weit befreit. Was sein vorliegendes Werk angeht, so beginne ich erst, es in seiner Komplexität und Tiefe wahrnehmen zu können. Derzeit arbeitet er an verschiedenen Projekten: Einem fünfstündigen Film und einem Roman mit dem Titel "Am" zum Beispiel. Er schrieb auch Kurzgeschichten und eine Anthologie mit dem Titel: "Richard Watts reads at Galerie Asia Occident selected poems, 1999", aus der ich einige Gedichte unten vorstelle, zum Teil mit deutschen Übersetzungen.

(Anis' Introduction on 29 May 2002) The first time I met Richard Watts was about three years ago somewhere in the periphery of the literary community of Kiel. Our friendship sometimes went through conflicts, and every time we managed to come closer to the world of the other, because we view life very similarly. We both create our own myths. Independently from each other we came to the same conclusions about the meaning of life.

Richard is much more experienced in life than I am. He is from California and as a child acted in Hollywood movies. He experienced the 60s in California. When he came to Kiel a couple of years ago, he left great parts of his work behind, most of all his paintings. He freed himself very much from materialism. Concerning his oeuvre, I am just at the beginning of understanding its complexity and depth. He is currently working on different projects: a five-hour movie and a novel called "Am", for example. He also has short stories and an anthology called "Richard Watts reads at Galerie Asia Occident selected poems, 1999", out of which I present some poems below, partly with German translations.

APOLLO 8

Under the skins of stars
We lay in the snow warm and safe.
My woman smiles
She is with child
I write a name in the snow.

The animals in the woods are alive,
Now that hunters migrate to the moon.

APOLLO 8

Unter den Häuten von Sternen
liegen wir warm und sicher im Schnee.
Meine Frau lächelt
Sie hat im Körper ein Kind
Ich schreibe einen Namen in den Schnee.

Die Tiere im Wald sind lebendig,
Jetzt, wo Jäger zum Mond hin ziehen.

© RICHARD WATTS: Tree Lady

MAN WITH PIPE,
© RICHARD WATTS

WHAT IS THIS HOUR BEFORE DAWN
IF NOT A TIME TO FORM
A CIRCLE BEFORE YOUR DOOR
OF STONES SHELLS AND FLOWERS
for Terry Rubin

I shall collect: stones shells flowers
creating a circle before your door.

I give you all that I possess:
my taste, sight, smell, hearing, touch, intellect.

How round the sun or moon or peach
before your door; sit; unlock the door
eat, dream, grow.

I collect: stones shells flowers
shaping before your door a circle,
not one of blood, of cage, or coffin

but one: where blackbird smelling sunflowers sits,
silent quick movement of ant stirs butterfly,
earth opens eye to reflect branches of oak;
simply, a circle containing everything I possess.

These stones shells flowers
circling standing sitting before your door
conjure: dreams fantasy delight;
therefore simply close your eyes

I give you all that I possess;
simply close your eyes
I give you all I can;
simply close your eyes; feel:
my taste, my smell, my hearing,
my sight, my touch, my intellect.;